Mercedes C 63 AMG Performance: ready to devour any opponent – ​​Sports Cars

This time, no press conference. We take the keys and go. The main character of the day is waiting: one Mercedes class C converted AMG in version Performance.

The engine is a 6-liter petrol engine producing 487 hp, ready to deliver 600 Nm. Vallelunga, where the penultimate round of the championship will take place in a few hours. Superstars.

I turn the key, push the button Home to the right of the steering wheel and V8 naturally aspirated it turns on instantly, calming down to a pleasant and silent minimum, but with an "excited" background, as if to immediately communicate something. I'm going out to the pit lane, it's time to notice the lever setting (too big) Automatic transmission 7-speed and dual clutch: move the lever to the right to upshift and to the left to downshift. Too little intuitive: difficult to get comfortable in a few seconds from the start. I decide to choose gear shifting with the help of paddle shifters. Let's go to.

The driving dynamics adjustment selector is located in Sports. Lo steering, which at first glance seemed too easy, at the first turn does its duty: essential as needed and with a good dose of "communicative". Not bad. Even if after the first straight, trying to unload all the power of the C 63 AMG to the ground, I make a mistake when entering a turn: there is no smooth entrance, I am far from the rope and I need to make a series of fixes, which, however, make us appreciate the good work of the frame that responds quickly and without any difficulty. Apparently the electronics are doing their job ... At the next bend, you can't go wrong: light understeer (the curve is one of the fastest) and you're ready to step on the pedal again.

In the meantime, I am accumulating circles and ... leftovers bus... Supestars have left their tracks and AMG's behavior is becoming more and more "gelatinous": the tires begin to heat up and "absorb" small parts found on the track. With all due respect to the traction that must be unloaded onto the rear wheels. No problem: I'm out of order, turn on the selector Sports + and I give it even more. I roll the car to its maximum and again quickly enter corners: a little more roll, more understeer, but the rear is following the set trajectory.

Small yaw angle, but nothing skewed. If you push it to the limit, you get the feeling that something is still missing: but where others give their best (cornering), there Sedan The German usually sighs a little.

Very fast on the straight: on the straight the C 63 feels unbeatable compared to its competitors. In S+ mode, the automatic transmission is labeled “Doppietta»Electronics and regains some speed by losing too much vibration (although double clutch) written with S.

When the brake pedal is fully depressed before entering a corner, a very reactive system seems to guarantee the correct action: the pedal travel is correct, braking it is dry, but not jerky, and the tires grip the pavement firmly. Calibration suspensions provides a good compromise between maximum performance on the track and handling on the one hand, and comfort in everyday use on the other.

When I make my way in a straight line at 230 km / h, I think: so much power on a clean track and without appendages. AMG clad in BlueEfficiency: nothing better in these modest times. I return to the pits and turn on the stereo to relieve the "stress" from the circuit. The radio plays Vasco Rossi's old song, "Vado al-maximum": will it be a coincidence?