F1 Hybrid Tech Boost for Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance
Mercedes-AMG’s latest sportwagen borrows heavily from the automaker’s race track expertise in hybrid powertrains for its Formula One cars.
In the new Mercedes-AMG C 63 SE Performance, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is combined with a permanently excited synchronous electric motor, a high-performance battery developed in Affalterbach and fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive in the 400-volt hybrid system. The system output of 670bhp and the maximum system torque of 752ft-lbs make for impressive driving performance with both the saloon and estate versions claiming a standstill to 62mph in 3.4 seconds on the way to an electronically governed 174mph or 168mph for the estate using the optional AMG Driver’s Package, in spite of its 2.1 ton curb weight.
The 201bhp electric motor is positioned at the rear axle, where it is integrated with an electrically shifted two-speed gearbox and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential in a compact electric drive unit (EDU), referred to as a P3 hybrid. The lightweight high-performance battery is also located in the rear above the rear axle.
The car’s high-performance battery in the C 63 S E PERFORMANCE offers a capacity of 6.1 kWh, continuous output of 70 kW and a peak output of 150 kW for ten seconds. The low weight of only 196lbs allows the high power density almost twice that of conventional units. Charging is via the 3.7 kW on-board AC charger, at a charging station, wallbox or household socket. The battery is designed for fast power delivery and draw, not for the longest possible range. Nevertheless, the electric range of 8 miles allows a practical operating radius, for example for quiet and emission-free driving from a residential area to the outskirts of the city or to the motorway. Despite the performance the automaker claims the car achieves 40.9mpg (34mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 156 g/km.
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
