Modern Classic: Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Many enthusiasts will agree that (to date) the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series is the most exciting C-Class. We head to Cape Town to sample a neat example and revisit one of Mercedes-AMG’s historical highlights. 

Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms 

The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series Coupe looks focused, purposeful and rather intimidating. That hasn’t always been the case with top-of-the-range AMG products. Take the classic AMG Hammer, for example. It looks muscular, sure, but neither extroverted, nor intimidating. 

Even as late as the mid-2000s, we were not accustomed to seeing large wings and heavily vented bonnets on Mercedes-Benz models. That started changing when the very first AMG Black Series arrived in the shape of the fixed hardtop 2006 SLK 55 AMG Coupé followed by the 2007 CLK 63 AMG Coupé and the next-level 2008 SL 65 AMG Coupé. The latter was the first V12 Black Series and saw the introduction of a neat rear wing. The arrival of the 2011 C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series left even those with a standard C 63 AMG sedan envious and wanting more. Since then, Mercedes-AMG has only released two more Black Series models, the SLS AMG Coupé and the Mercedes-AMG GT in 2021. 

Needless to say, these are rare cars. The owner of this specific car is Allen Grübl. He bought it in 2020 with 22 000 km on the odo. Clearly, he thoroughly enjoyed it as he quickly racked up a good few kilometres as the odo is now indicating 53 479 km. He has slowed down recently though, and only takes it out once or twice a week. The enthusiasm is evident as he starts talking about the car: “I had a good bit of fun in the first year or two of ownership. At one stage our Mercedes-Benz ML was giving us a few issues, so I actually used this as my daily driver. I had an A45 AMG at one stage and then I was looking at a W205 C63 S. I ordered one, but the entire rear diffuser got cracked during the shipping process. I cancelled it and then I put my potential purchase on ice before I started searching again. In my head the Black Series was always the ultimate car for me and after looking around I finally purchased this one.”

The details

The white exterior ensures all the exterior details are accentuated. These include the optional Track Pack which adds the rear wing as well as active rear-axle transmission cooling to name but two features. This is a well-equipped C 63 AMG Black Series, then. Make no mistake, even without the rear wing, the bulging wheelarches, angular exhaust tips, perforated bonnet and front winglets provide the aura of a very serious, very high-performance Mercedes-Benz – quite the opposite of the W108 or W123 your father or grandfather drove. Mercedes-Benz also aimed to lower the car’s weight by using some carbon-fibre parts and installing an aluminium bonnet.

If you can find an original press kit, you won’t be surprised to learn that Mercedes-Benz threw in a couple of references to the DTM and its F1 safety car, thus emphasizing the car’s relevance to their racing programme. Combine this with a limited run of only 800 units of this Black Series and this makes low-mileage examples quite collectable.

Behind the wheel

Take your place behind the wheel and there are a few elements revealing the car’s age. However, I don’t miss any of the additional layers of technology that is offered these days in modern ‘Benzes. Everything you need is still here even though the information screen is smaller. The seats are comfortable and supportive and the steering wheel with its half Alcantara, half leather-covered rim doesn’t look like it has endured more than 53 000 km of driving hands holding it. Allen is very specific about the condition and maintenance of his car, and it is obvious outside and in the cabin.

Start the engine and the rumble from the exhaust is a tuneful, aural reminder of the naturally-aspirated M156 6.2-litre, V8 engine under the bonnet. To date this is one of the largest engines we’ve seen from Mercedes-Benz. Here it is tuned to develop 380 kW and 620 N.m, not much less than what it developed in the standard SLS AMG. This has been achieved by sharing its forged pistons, connecting-rods and lightweight camshaft with said SLS AMG.

I first leave the driving mode selector in “C” for comfort and this Black Series is clearly comfortable moving along the road at a sedate pace, using the ample torque from the lower-third of the rev range. The ride is still relatively absorbent, but there is an undoubted firmness to the ride quality that will limit excessive body roll when you start to press on. The Black Series is suspended on a motorsport-inspired adjustable coil-over suspension setup comprising MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup under that wide rear.

There are more modes to select though, and once you’ve turned the dial to sport or sport+ (preferably the latter), the car awakens, displaying a very distilled side, something the engineers obviously had in mind. Dropping a couple of gears through the seven-speed transmission (torque converter remember, no dual-clutch transmission) there is an immediate sense of a higher level of performance. You can leave the transmission in the automatic setting, or get more involved and flip those cold, metal pedals attached to the steering wheel. Keep your foot flat and the revs climb with intent towards the 6 000 rpm mark. Peak power arrives only 800 rpm later and then you better pull the right-hand pedal quickly as the rev limiter arrives only 400 rpm later. The engine is especially eager in its powerband in this, the upper-third of the rev range.

There are exciting barks from the exhaust pipes as you select a lower gear while the combination of the torque and power towards the upper end of the rev range provides some fast bursts of acceleration. If you are used to modern transmissions or some double-clutch units, the speed of this transmission might disappoint you briefly – but only briefly.  

Fitted with grippy Dunlop Sport road tyres, grips levels are enough to keep things in check (285/30 R 19 at the rear and 255/35 R 19 at the front), but as we know, and you can clearly sense this, the slightest flex from your right foot on the throttle pedal will easily push the rear axle wide. There is the option to switch the ESP half off. That allows the car to be more playful at lower speeds, but just remember that the same amount of slip is allowed at higher speeds and you will need to be handy behind the wheel as there is still a great deal of potential rear-end pendulum action, irrespective of the speed at which you are going.

Adding to the excitement through the steering wheel as well as the physical and aural enjoyment are the visual highlights. The tactile steering wheel features a flat apex and base, and although you sit low in the car, you can still see some of the bonnet creases in front of you and sections of the rear wing in your mirrors. These are not sights one usually associate with Mercedes-Benz, and especially not from a decade-and-half ago.

Another highlight of this Black Series is the enjoyment it delivers at any speed. You are constantly aware of the large-capacity V8 and the fact that you are driving something special. You can chirp the tyres from standstill for some fun, or you can lean on the car’s grip at higher speeds. It is not too focused for an extended road trip, has a full boot but offers all the performance you could wish for – and there are four seats!

Although there are Black Series models that offer higher levels of performance, like the two that followed after the W204, there is something to be said for a Black Series that also offers a level of practicality but doesn’t forgo any of the visual drama. It is understandable why the values of these cars have climbed in the past few years – they offer a wonderful combination of treats to their lucky owners. 

Specifications:

Model: Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Black Series Roadster Coupé (W204) 

Engine: M156, 6,2-litre, V8

Power: 380 kW at 6 800 rpm

Torque: 680 N.m at 5 200 rpm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic, RWD

Weight: 1 730 kg

0-100 km/h: 4.2sec 

Top speed: 300 km/h

Years produced: 2011 – 2013


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