Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance vs BMW M3 Competition vs Audi RS5: spec battle!

Mercedes-AMG horrified the automobile media panorama when it launched that its next C63 – an iconic model in its performance lineup – would ditch four of its cylinders and add turbo-hybrid energy for its W206 generation in 2024.

Nonetheless despite now working with correct half its cylinder depend, Mercedes-AMG has tranquil managed to carry out its hasty sedan more highly effective than ever.

To review performance, powertrains, fashioned instruments and price, we’ve pitted the contemporary C63 towards the Bavarian G80 BMW M3 sedan and, from Affalterbach, the Audi RS5 Sportback.

A paunchy review of the contemporary C63 soon to Chasing Vehicles, nonetheless for now let’s review this holy trinity of German performance automobiles, spec for spec.

How grand attain these hasty luxury automobiles tag?

Starting up with the Mercedes-AMG C63, pricing has been confirmed for Australia with the only real hybrid-turbo sedan costing $187,900 sooner than on-road prices. Interestingly, a five-door wagon is without delay available in varied markets, nonetheless no longer here in Australia.

The BMW M3, meanwhile, in rotten handbook guise starts from $161,300 sooner than on-road prices, or as grand as $177,800 sooner than on-road prices for the xDrive Competition variant. Whenever you’re after an even purer utilizing journey, the M3 CS flagship will tag alive to patrons $249,900 sooner than on-road prices.

Audi’s RS5 is without delay available in coupe and sportback physique kinds in the neighborhood and starts from $169,100 sooner than on-road prices, making it essentially the most cost-effective of the three models sooner than on-road prices.

Powertrains when put next

We’ll open this piece with arguably essentially the most robotically-subtle vehicle on this spec battle, the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance.

On the combustion facet of issues, the C63 S E Performance is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine – the same engine earlier college in the A45 S hatch – that produces 350kW of energy and 545Nm of torque by myself. This makes the 2.0-litre unit essentially the most highly effective production four-cylinder engine on this planet.

To add to that, a trudge-in hybrid system has been mated to the combustion engine which provides a further 150kW/320Nm by potential of an electrical motor mounted on the rear axle.

Entire outputs for the C63 are 500kW/1020Nm. Crazy, correct? This makes the rapidly luxury sedan capable of sprinting to 100km/h in a claimed 3.4 seconds.

Subsequent is the G80 BMW M3. To review most suitably to the C63 S E Performance, we’ll possess end a appreciate on the Competition xDrive spec which is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 375kW/650Nm.

Now not just like the Mercedes-AMG, the BMW goes with out the snarl of hybrid support. BMW has mated the M3’s straight-six engine with a eight-speed torque converter automated transmission that powers all four wheels.

BMW claims that the all-wheel pressure BMW M3 Competition is capable of sprinting to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds, which is no longer far off what the Mercedes C63 claims.

Rounding out the pack is the Audi RS5 that, grand luxuriate in the M3, does no longer snarl any personal of hybrid support (but). Onboard the rapidly Audi is a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine that produces 331kW/600Nm and puts that energy and torque to the road by potential of Audi’s quattro all-wheel pressure system and an eight-speed torque converter automated transmission.

Audi claims a slower-than-competitors 4.1 2d 0-100km/h time. Peaceable nothing to shake your head at.

Nonetheless then there’s the weight jam…

The Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance would perchance have essentially the most energy and torque of this match up, nonetheless it completely additionally has a weight venture. Mercedes claims that the contemporary C63’s kerb weight is 2165kg, making it heavier than the sizzling, three-row Toyota Kluger hybrid.

When when put next, the BMW M3 in Competition spec weighs 1775kg kerb, whereas the Audi RS5 in Sportback guise weighs in at 1795kg.

That 390kg disagreement between the AMG and the M3 potential that, in the announce world, the 2 can also very successfully be more evenly matched, on the other hand larger weight can also lead to the C63 being more punishing on its braking system over time.

We’ll correct deserve to evaluate about for ourselves when we pressure the C63 in the flesh very soon.

What attain you procure for your money?

The AMG C63 S E Performance will debut in Australia in a single excessive-spec variant, nonetheless will embody positive aspects such as:

• Panoramic sliding sunroof
• Head-up present with AMG-particular graphical parts
• Burmester 3D surround sound system
• Heated and powered entrance seats
• Ambient lighting
• Smartphone integration
• Wi-fi charging for successfully matched mobile devices
• MBUX augmented reality for navigation
• AMG Observe Poke equipment
• Automated cruise control
• Energetic lane-possess relief
• Site visitors tag relief
• Parking equipment along side 360-diploma camera
• Self sustaining emergency braking
• Digital headlights
• Adaptive excessive beam relief

On the BMW M3 Competition, fashioned positive aspects embody:

• Staggered 19-fling/20-fling alloy wheels
• 10.25-fling centre touchscreen
• 12.3-fling digital instrument cluster
• 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• Head-up present
• Wi-fi phone charging
• M Sport Merino leather-basically based fully seats
• Adaptive suspension
• Consume sound level control

Lastly, the Audi RS5 will is supplied as fashioned with:

• 20-fling alloy wheels
• 10.1-fling touchscreen
• 12.3-fling virtual cockpit
• 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• Four USB ports
• Three-zone climate control
• RS sports actions seats completed in Nappa leather-basically based fully
• Panoramic sunroof
• RS sport suspension
• Quattro sport differential
• RS sport snarl system
• Dynamic bolt control

All up, the three luxury sports actions automobiles are very identical on spec and successfully-specced at that, nonetheless they must be at this luxury tag point. The AMG affords plenty in relation to tag, nonetheless has a larger sticker tag that patrons must have in mind of.

Spec-to-spec conclusion

The contemporary Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance might maybe be the most modern and most highly effective luxury sports actions saloon on this comparison, nonetheless the sizzling BMW M3 Competition xDrive affords quite a lot of the same performance for round $10,000 less.

The Audi RS5 affords quite a lot of performance (and even larger practicality whereas you happen to trip for the robotically-identical RS4 Avant), nonetheless on paper, the BMW tranquil appears to be just like the decide of the lot – as lengthy as you’re partial to the mammoth grille styling!

The originate of the contemporary C63 is scheduled for February 2024, so appreciate forward to a accurate-world review of the rapidly hybrid sedan in the upcoming weeks.

In declare so that you just can read more about these three rocket ships, test out the links to our earlier experiences below:

• Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance international first review
• BMW M3 xDrive Competition review
• Audi RS5 review