New Mercedes-AMG C63 Prepares To Battle BMW M3

The all-new Mercedes C-Class debuted last month as a credible rival to the BMW 3 Series. Now, the wait for the all-new Mercedes-AMG C63, which will battle the BMW M3, has begun. Last month, our spies caught Mercedes-AMG testing the new C63 wagon, and now cold-weather testing of its sedan sibling has started.

Unlike the wagon variant, the AMG C63 Sedan will go on sale in the US. The prototype is heavily camouflaged, but AMG's design cues are easy to spot, from the Panamericana grille and redesigned bumpers to the wider fenders and side sills and quad exhaust pipes. While the styling looks familiar, there are some significant changes under the hood.

Stricter emissions regulations have forced Mercedes-AMG to ditch the current C63's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Replacing it will be the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged M139 engine that powers the A45 S hot hatchback.

While the new powerplant is short on cylinders compared to the current car, it will be significantly more powerful thanks to electrical assistance. According to recent reports, the electrified four-cylinder unit will produce 550 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, up from 469 hp and 479 lb-ft in the current C63 and 503 hp and 516 lb-ft in the C63 S.

Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, this electrified setup will enable the new C63 to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds and max out at 181 mph. This will also make it more powerful than the BMW M3 Competition, which has 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.

Our spies were unable to get a look at the interior but it should mimic the layout of the regular C-Class, so expect it to pack an 11.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Since the new C-Class only debuted last month, the new AMG C63 will most likely break cover later this year or early next year.