After more than 30 years, the most powerful Mercedes C-Class returns to the 4-cylinder engine. The future Mercedes-AMG C 63 e 4Matic will be a Plug-In Hybrid with 4-cylinder engine and about 520 HP.

Photo: Mercedes, auto motor und sport

Mercedes presented in March 1990 at the Geneva Motor Show Mercedes 190 Evo II equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that delivers 235 HP and 245 Nm. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission. 

Benefiting from new electrification technologies, Mercedes returns to the 4-cylinder engine for the most powerful C-Class. The Mercedes-AMG C 63 e 4Matic will be a 4-cylinder hybrid plug-in.

Mercedes-AMG continues to develop the process of electrifying engines. The latest innovation is an electric exhaust gas turbocharger developed in partnership with Garrett Motion.

The highlight of this innovative turbocharging system is a slim electric motor with a width of only 4 cm that is integrated directly on the turbine shaft between the turbine on the exhaust side and the compressor on the fresh air side. The electronically controlled electric motor drives the turbine before it is driven by the exhaust gases. This means that there is no more turbo-lag. The turbine has a maximum speed of 170,000 rpm and the electric motor is connected to a 48V network.

According to auto motor und sport magazine, the first electric turbine is celebrating world premiere in the next Mercedes-AMG C-Class (W206). In addition, the turbo can be integrated into a hybrid drive train, as the electric motor can also work as a generator.

The system is known from Formula 1 engines, under the abbreviation MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit-Heat). In the future Mercedes-AMG C 63 e 4Matic a plug-in hybrid drive consisting of a two-liter four-cylinder (M 139) and an electric motor could deliver around 520 HP and 700 Nm, with 10 HP more than the most powerful C 63 AMG with 4.0 liter biturbo V8 engine. .

The basic version of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 e will also combine the 2-liter turbo engine (M254) with an electric turbine and an electric motor. Given that the new E 300 e develops 320 HP (211 HP from the M254 heat engine and 122 HP from the electric engine) we expect the C 43 to have around 390 HP.

Here is the list of all Mercedes-AMG models based on the C-Class.

Mercedes C 36 AMG (W202) 1995-1997

The first C Class AMG was based on the C 280. The 3.6-liter in-line 6-cylinder engine (M104) developed 280 HP and 385 Nm and was mated to a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.7 seconds and top speed was limited to 250 km/h. This model was not really a 100% AMG model. It was a C 280 disassembled for tuning at the AMG factory. 5,200 units were produced.

Mercedes C 43 AMG (W202) 1997-2000

The Mercedes C 43 AMG is the first model assembled at the Mercedes plant after the acquisition of AMG in 1998. The C 43 was available as both as limousine and  T-model and had a 4.3-liter V8 engine (M113 E43) that developed 306 HP and 410 Nm. The engine was derivated from the V8 which powered the W210 E 430. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h lasted 6.5 seconds while the top speed is limited to 250 km/h. 4,200 units were produced from which 20% were T-Models.

 Mercedes C 55 AMG (W202) July 1998-May 2000

This was a more special model in the sense that customers had to order C43 AMG and then the engine was modified by AMG. It had the code M113 E 55, a displacement of 5.4 liters and developed 347 HP and 510 Nm. The sprint from 0 to 100 km / h was achieved in 5.5 seconds.

Mercedes C 32 AMG (W203) (2001-2003)

In the new generation W203 Mercedes introduces the first C-Class AMG with supercharged engine. The 3.2-liter V6 engine develops 347 HP and 450 Nm using an IHI compressor. In addition to the sedan, there was a limited T-Model series for certain markets. In 2003, a limited series C32 Sport Coupe was produced. It takes 5.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h. 

Mercedes C 30 CDI AMG (W203) (2003-2005)

Mercedes tried to expand its customer portfolio with the first and only diesel produced by AMG. The 5-cylinder 3-liter diesel engine is based on the OM612 and develops 231 HP and 540 Nm. The car was not very successful.

Mercedes C 55 AMG (W203) (2004-2007)

After the 2004 facelift, Mercedes returns to the aspirated V8 engine. The new version of the M113 E55 engine develops 367 HP and 510 Nm. But it did not offer better performance than the C 32 AMG, and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h was also achieved in 5.2 seconds.

Mercedes C 63 AMG (W204) (2007-2015)

It is one of the longest-lived AMG models and was the first C-Class AMG in which AMG modified not only the engine but also the drive train.

The C 63 AMG had a revised suspension and other settings for ESP. The 6.2-liter V8 engine (M156) is the largest aspirated V8 available in Europe and was mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Develop 457 hp and 600 Nm.

It has also a more powerful version C 63 AMG performance package Plus which deliver 487 HP and 600 Nm.

Other two special series were offered:
– Mercedes C 63 AMG Edition 507 with 507 HP
– Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series with 517 HP and 620 Nm.

 Mercedes C 43 AMG 4Matic (W205) (since april 2015)

Mercedes has tried to create an intermediate series of models to compete with the BMW M Performance. For a short time the model was called the C 450 4Matic AMG and the engine was a 3-liter V6 bi-turbo with 367 HP coupled with 7-speed automatic transmission.

After the facelift, the power increased to 390 HP and the 7-speed transmission was replaced with the new 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Mercedes-AMG C 63/C 63 S (since february 2015)

The top C 63 AMG version received the new bi-turbo V8 engine launched in the fall of 2014 on the AMG GT. It develops 476 HP and 650 Nm in the base version and 510 HP and 700 Nm in the C 63 S version.