'The guys at AMG are different,' mused the Mercedes designer. 'They have fewer constraints. We just send them the car and they do what they want.'
In the case of the C63 AMG, created in Affalterbach by the long-established tuning company now owned by Mercedes-Benz but still independent in its attitude, that means fitting a compact family-sized car with a 6.2-litre V8, developing 451bhp and 442lb-ft of torque. Zero to 62mph comes up in 4.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. The C63 AMG sneaks ahead of the new BMW M3 (414bhp, 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, 155mph) - and has a substantial edge in the mine's-bigger-than-yours argument. 'The M3,' said one AMG engineer dismissively, 'has only a 4.0-litre V8.'
As the old American petrolhead adage goes, there ain't no substitute for cubic inches, and the hand-built AMG V8 also packs in plenty of race-developed technology and no-expenses-spared components: variable camshaft adjustment and a magnesium variable-intake manifold, a new ultra-quick fuel injection system and large motorsport-spec engine and transmission oil coolers are fitted, just like those in Mercedes' latest DTM (German touring car series) racers.
Stuttgart taxi meets DTM racer
With all its 6,208cc there's no need for a turbo, and this naturally breathing engine can be revved up to a perfectly high enough 7,200rpm. Power peaks at 6,800rpm and torque at 5,000rpm. The C63 is clearly a rather different prospect to the M3, which doesn't reach its maximum torque until 8,300rpm, whereas the Merc's peaks at 3,900rpm.
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