The new Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance Hybrid will come to Australia in mid-2023

The iconic Mercedes-AMG C63 muscle car is about to have a seismic makeover, with the new model ditching the famous V8 for a high-performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.

The new model with the name Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance will roll into the Australian showrooms in sedan form in mid-2023 – then it will certainly polarize.

“As always, judgment should be reserved if the vehicle has been experienced,” a spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Australia said this week.

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MORE: Dive into the new Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance

It will be the most powerful C63 built, faster than the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8-powered car it replaces and the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8-powered C63 before it .

As always, the latest C63 will compete against the BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. But when it comes to powertrain technology, it’s a whole different beast.

For the full picture, you should read our Angus MacKenzie deep dive here, but here are the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 SE performance cliff notes:

• System performance up to 500kW and 1020Nm
• 2.0 liter four cylinder “M139” engine.
• Rear axle electric motor with 150kW
• 400V electrical architecture
• 6.1 kWh battery, 89 km heavy, 13 km EV range
• Minimum 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds
• Top speed of 280 km/h
• Fuel consumption of 6.9 l/100 km
• Curb weight of 2111 kg
• All-wheel drive AMG Performance 4MATIC+

MORE: Dive into the new Mercedes-AMG C63 SE Performance