Mercedes-AMG C63 drag race: are four cylinders better than eight?

There’s no denying that the new Mercedes-AMG C63 S is stupidly powerful, and that’s despite the fact it’s got half the amount of cylinders compared to its predecessor. So what will happen when we get the two cars together on the drag strip?

Well that’s what we’re here today to find out. Will the all-out power of the new car be enough, or will the added bulk of the hybrid system be its downfall? Let’s take a closer look at both cars.

Old Mercedes-AMG C63 S

Mat’s taken the wheel of the previous-generation C63 S today, so he has a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine under the bonnet. It puts out 510hp and 700Nm of torque, and it’s linked to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with launch control.

Getting this thing off the line quickly could be tricky thanks to the rear-wheel drive, but it’s considerably lighter than the new car – tipping the scales at 1,750kg. When it was new back in 2015, the car we have here would’ve set you back just under £64,000.

New Mercedes-AMG C63 S

Moving on to the new car then, and the main reason it’s quite so controversial. Under the bonnet you’ll find a tweaked version of the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from the A45 S hot hatch, however it’s paired to an electric motor to make a combined 680hp and 1,020Nm of torque.

Unlike the old car you have all-wheel drive and a nine-speed multi-clutch automatic gearbox, but all the extra hybrid gubbins means it weighs in at 2,190kg. It also costs almost £100,000, and there’s a distinct lack of aural pleasure from the exhaust.

But this isn’t a sound competition, it’s about straight line speed. Want to find out which of these two cars is the quickest? Check out the video to find out.

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