2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance combines performance and efficiency like no other

Rumours had been swirling for quite some time now that the next generation of the legendary Mercedes-AMG C63 performance sedan would feature electrification more prominently. Introduced yesterday, the brand-new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance does indeed swap out its old turbocharged V8 engine for a new plug-in hybrid powertrain, but in the process, it doesn't seem to have lost any of its bite and performance. As a matter of fact, one could argue that the soul and DNA that is so unique to the C63 has not only been preserved, but also enhanced.

The heart and soul of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance

Mercedes-AMG vehicles stand out for a variety of reasons, but the heart and soul of AMG-built vehicles is the engine under the hood, or shall we say the hand-built turbocharged engine under the hood. The C63 in its latest generation featured a biturbo V8 that delivered up to 503 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque. It was by far the most powerful C-Class you could buy and anyone who experienced it will tell you it was just as thrilling in a straight line as it was going around corners. Now Mercedes-AMG has redesigned the C63 and although the powertrain under the bulging hood is very different, the performance numbers are even more staggering.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance combines a turbocharged 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder powertrain with an electric motor to deliver a total output of 671 hp and 752 pound-feet of torque. This new generation marks the end of compact V8 sedans in the Mercedes-AMG lineup, but we think enthusiasts will be fine with that seeing the numbers this new plug-in hybrid turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers.

The turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine is taken from the CLA 45 and GLA 45 models, but it has been modified in order to be mounted longitudinally. This engine provides a potent 469 hp right out of the gate. Mercedes-AMG engineers then combined the engine with the same hybrid system found in the AMG GT63 S E-Performance that features a 201-hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle and paired to a two-speed gearbox. This engine can provide its full output through a boost function for 10 seconds. When the boost function isn’t activated, the electric motor delivers 94 horsepower.

A nine-speed automatic wet-clutch gearbox from AMG will be tasked with sending all of this power to the appropriate wheels and unlike previous C63 models, this new generation will feature all-wheel drive traction.

Key 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance Numbers

Horsepower: 671 hp

Torque: 752 pound-feet

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-4 + rear-mounted electric motor

0-100 km/h: approximately 3.5 seconds

More linear, sustained performance for the new 2024 C63 S E-Performance

The C63 S E-Performance will offer a range of just over 15 km in all-electric mode. Obviously, that is not a very large number but that is not what the new Mercedes-AMG performance compact sedan is about. The goal is not to turn this into an electric vehicle, the goal is to use the electric motor to provide the highest level of performance possible while also significantly lowering the fuel consumption. Mercedes-AMG engineers took full advantage of the benefits of an electric motor that include instant torque and spectacular performance with no fuel usage.

The new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance will reach 60 mph or 97 km/h in just 3.3 seconds, exceeding the performance of the current model. That said, numbers on paper don't tell the whole story. By having up to 201 hp pushed through the rear axle in an all-wheel drive vehicle, the new C63 S E-Performance will react more quickly to driver inputs, provide greater performance across the rev range and allow for a more engaging experience coming out of corners, accelerating from a stop, or passing on the highway. Less hesitation, quicker reactions, better efficiency, and more performance. That is the name of the game with the all new 2024 Mercedes-AMG C63 S E-Performance