SPY PHOTOS: Mercedes C63 AMG

Yes

Also Imagine the WEIGHT of such a Large Displacement Engine.

Then Imagine the effects of that WEIGHT on the HANDLING of a vehicle as small as the C-Class.

You are correct that it need not be larger or heavier but it is usually the case.

Every time someone talks about weight of big engines, I point them squarely at the LS7.... From my understanding, the new M156 weighs less than the M113 it replaces and is able to sit lower in the car.

Nice! Same classy AMG kit, nothing unexpected- and that's a good thing.

It may still not handle like an M3 or RS4, but the C AMG never has, and that's not what it's there for. My prediction? IS-F and C63 AMG will end up being direct competitors, with the RS4/RS5 and M3 taking their fight elsewhere.

If all the talk about the new C's handling has any merit, I bet this new AMG model will keep right up with the Audi and BMW in the handling. The old C55 usually had enough power to keep the nose pointed where you wanted to go. Not graceful but still fast around the corners.

I agree that the IS-F and the C-Class would be a better comparison. However the IS-F lacks what the Merc has and that is class. The IS-F is aimed at a younger audience whereas the C-Class hasn't always been doing the same marketing. However the new one may boost some sales amongst the younger crowds since its more aggressively styled.

420hp from a 6.2l V8 is...... not good. Before someone bashes me, I know AMG's philosophy, and Im not a fan of it. I really wonder if it will be able to beat the new M3 even in a straight line, because the M3 is going to be lighter. But I think the power will be more than 420hp....

WEll, they use the same engine in the E, CL, CLS etc, where it produces 525hp

You bet me to it. I was just about to say that AMG has de-tuned this engine on purpose. It has up to 520hp in the S63 AMG. They can get more power out of it easily, but that would render their "65 AMG" models useless.

Oh and BTW I've heard water cooler talk of 450hp. That would make sense, as the C AMG (as most AMGs are) is usually the most powerful in its class, to set it apart from slightly slower, better-handling competition.

All of you are forgetting the old 'murrican saying, "They aint no replacement fo displacement." Can it be surmised that an engine with greater displacement; even though restricted in horsepower output, will have have more torque than the 4.2 in the RS4 and the 4.0 in the M3. Two liters more in displacement for the Merc is nothing to dismiss. I'm curious to see the final output, hp/liter, and power to weight ratio.

The Lexus fanboys can chime in with the torque figures of the the STILL yet to be tested IS-F; I believe it will be close or over 350 ft-lbs. The 4.6 V8(which the IS-F's V8 is based on) in the LS460 produces something to the tune of 380hp and 370 ft-lbs of torque. Please, the Lexus militia, don't have a stroke if my figures of your heralded brand aren't 110% correct.
The V8 in the IS-F must have a shorter stroke if the current media estimations say that 350 is around the torque figure to expect. The 4.6 produces 370. Longer stroke maybe?

Anyway, I think that the new Merc will be ANOTHER car we can only speculate on until DCX drops the C63 with the model data AND a reputable mag tests it.

Yes, I'm right behind you, but when I was saying that it would probably be closer to the IS-F than M3/RS4, I wasn't bashing. I love Mercedes as well as AMG, and everything they stand for. However, the C AMG has never been the best-handling car, and there's nothing at the moment to prove me wrong. Again, that doesn't make it WORSE than the competition- because I'm sure it will be better in a straight line. It's just what you look for in a sports sedan... and honestly, more would be attracted to the straight-line speed of AMG than the purity of M and RS.

That wagon is horrible.

This is terrible... I know it says detuned to 420bhp but the point is why does AMG need a 6.3 V8 to get 420bhp when Audi and BMW M can do it with so much less?