Mercedes-AMG revealed the new C63 in September 2022, but only now does the electrified sports sedan finally have a price in the United States. The car starts at $85,050 after factoring in the mandatory $1,150 destination and delivery charge. Upgrade to the Pinnacle version with additional technology and you’ll pay $87,100. The long-awaited model will be available in dealerships later this spring.
How does it compare to the competition? Its main opponent is the BMW M3, sold from $76,995. Many enthusiasts will likely prefer Bavaria’s C63 fighter for its larger inline-six engine (without a plug-in hybrid setup), rear-wheel-drive layout, and six-speed manual transmission. The more powerful automatic-only M3 Competition is even cheaper, at $81,195.
As for the two-pedal M3 Competition xDrive, it costs about the same as the AMG C63, at $85,295. The limited-production M3 CS launched last year is gone, but when the special edition was available, BMW charged $119,695.
63 Pictures
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio would normally be a direct rival, but the Italian sports sedan is unfortunately being pulled from the United States. If you hurry, final orders will be taken by the end of this month, with production expected to end in June. The rear-drive-only V6 model can be yours for $83,465, again cheaper than the C63. Alfa is offering a $1,750 incentive if you take delivery by the end of the month, bringing the price down to $81,715.
Representing America, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing is the least expensive of the lot. Stick with the manual gearbox and you pay $62,890, while the automatic model costs $66,065. There’s also the Audi RS5 Sportback, which is technically a sedan, but still a rival to the AMG C63. This also undermines the Affalterbach model since the Four Rings charge $80,995.
| Model | Base price |
| Mercedes-AMG C63 | $85,050 |
| BMWM3 | $76,995 |
| Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio | $81,715 |
| Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing | $62,890 |
| Audi RS5 Sportback | $80,995 |
By purchasing the most expensive car in its segment, you get the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine ever installed in a production vehicle. The hand-built “M139l” is a 2.0-liter unit mounted longitudinally rather than transversely as is the case in AMG’s “45” cars. It alone develops 469 horsepower and works with a 201 horsepower electric motor.
It is worth noting that the rear-mounted electric motor offers its maximum power for just 10 seconds while the continuous output is only 94 hp. The electric motor draws its juice from a 6.1 kWh battery. Unlike its rear-wheel drive, V8-powered predecessor, the new four-cylinder AMG C63 is available only with all-wheel drive. You get a maximum combined horsepower of 671 and a staggering 752 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough electrified muscle to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds.
There is a second electric motor that spins the turbo to virtually eliminate the dreaded turbo lag. Mercedes-AMG also offers rear-wheel steering (up to 2.5 degrees), composite brakes, dynamic engine mounts and adaptive damping. America only gets the sedan, but Europeans can also buy the C63 as a more practical wagon. The RS4 Avant and M3 Touring are also not available in the United States.
It remains to be seen how many Americans will shell out $85,000 for a four-cylinder car, even if the specs are this impressive. Don’t hold your breath for the V-8’s return, because that’s already been ruled out. AMG CEO Michael Schiebe said they were sticking with the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid setup because it was “very, very progressive.”
The next E63 will also lose the big old V-8, likely to make way for an electrified straight-six.
