Just 10 or 12 laps around the impressive Phakisa racetrack at Welkom were enough to convince that the all-new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is a true star in the making. The C55 already was a smashing car in the literal sense, but had certain minor downsides such as the slow automatic box and a suspension set-up not that positive and responsive. It also needed supercharging to assist its rather ageing and somewhat low-revving V6 three-valve SOHC engine.

Instead the C63 is a revelation. This time around a bespoken normally-aspirated 7300rpm-red-lined quad-cam V8 engine designed and built by AMG is in place. What’s more it has the road-holding to rank with the very best, and perhaps just a little less frenetic than the illustrious BMW M3 but subsequently more comfortable on the road.

But what was truly impressive was its forgiving nature. Once or twice the bum did flick out, causing a momentary slide — but was easily caught and corrected without fuss or bother, and so much better than the C55.

To achieve such levels of road holding various measures were instituted. The new front axle now features a track width increased by 35mm to reduce dynamic wheel load when cornering. Further measures ensure substantially increased stability and precision in all driving scenarios including a newly designed front axle that is 100 percent firmer for significantly improved steering precision. The new set-up also ensures instantaneous brake system response even under dynamic loads.

The new wheel location provides for greatly improved lateral dynamics — which allows for significantly higher cornering speeds. A larger torsion bar stabiliser, new head bearings and dampers with rebound buffer springs further enhance stability and precision.

Steering feedback is also improved by the new kinematics. The speed-sensitive AMG sports-steering is far more direct as a result of moving what is termed as the ‘instant centre of motion’ at the front axle. A more rigid Hardy disc in the steering column as well as modified steering characteristics make further contributions.

At the rear the multi-link independent suspension is re-engineered with a 12mm wider track and more camber, leading to improved cornering with a lesser tendency for the rear to kick out when driven with verve. Tougher drive shafts and drive-joints for the big torque and power increases also improve reliability. A feature of the new suspension set-up is the combination of maintaining the balance between comfort levels for long-distance travelling while including precise race-track abilities.

AMG states that the C63 is based on the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) version. Available in sedan and estate versions, the C63 is powered by an AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 336kW and 600Nm, enabling the C63 AMG to accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

Renowned the world over, the AMG logo has embodied individualism, dynamism, exclusivity, uniqueness and precision for four decades. Another surprising feature is that around 22000 AMG high-performance C-Class cars have been sold between 1993 and 2007 — and even more surprisingly South Africa is ranked as the fourth highest selling market in the overall AMG global terms market and a sure indication of the success of AMG in this part of the world.

In the Phakisa pits AMG staff displayed a front portion cut-way of the C63 for the edification of journalists that more than indicated to what extent a powerful engine such as the C63 is in need of cooling capacity. To this end, and in the interests of optimal reliability, the C63 AMG has a particularly efficient water cooling system and large engine and transmission oil coolers — in fact six of the cooling radiators are situated just ahead of the main engine radiator and fed via large apertures in the AMG front apron. These all ensure non-critical operating temperatures at all times — even under the extreme stress of racetrack conditions

Like all AMG high-performance engines, the AMG 6.3-litre V8 is built in the AMG engine shop on the traditional ‘one man, one engine’ principle. This means that one technician is responsible for hand-assembling a complete V8 engine to the highest standards, which are attested by their signatures on the AMG engine plates.

Power transmission is in the capable hands of the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic. Equipped with AMG steering-wheel shift paddles and featuring three drive programmes, the seven-speed automatic offers everything from a serious sporty mode to a comfort-oriented driving mode. The system can also be switched off completely should you so require, but in fact around the Phakisa race-track I used the extremely effective sporty set-up, leaving the hairy 'off' position for when we get the car to test with more time and some practice.

The paddle-shift works so well with its ‘blip-racing-style-change-down’ into corners and as good as if you were doing it in the classic manual-shift style. This all-new revving function is great and — in conjunction with the newly developed front axle, PAMG speed-sensitive sports steering and the new three-stage ESP set-up, AMG sports suspension with 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels — allows for top driving enjoyment and exciting driving dynamics.

And when you peer through those alloy wheels at the AMG high-performance brake system with those large-dimensioned internally ventilated and perforated disc brakes you know the car will certainly not suffer with brake-fade under almost the severest of conditions. In fact braking characteristics in overall terms were flawless.

The quality of design and equipment in the new C63 AMG is more than a match for its outstanding technology and differentiates from the production C-Class more than ever before. In addition to AMG body-styling, characteristic brand features include the bonnet with neat power domes, distinctive AMG radiator grille, flared front wings, AMG rear apron with a black diffuser insert, AMG sports exhaust system with two chromed twin tailpipes and the AMG spoiler lip.

The interior is dominated by distinctive AMG sports seats with integrated head restraints, AMG performance steering wheel in a three-spoke design with 365mm rim diameter and a flattened lower section as well as the tubular-design AMG instrument cluster with AMG main menu. The combination of expressive design, sporty interior and practicality makes the C63 AMG a unique high-performance vehicle.

The market launch of the sedan sees the C63 AMG retail at R699 000 with the estate model following later this year equipped with the same 6.3-litre V8 engine. The estate’s performance figures of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds, is still impressive…