Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance Review

The engineering here is remarkable and the product is a failure, which is an unusual combination. AMG took a 2.0 litre four-cylinder, fitted an electrically assisted turbocharger derived from Formula One practice that spins to 170,000rpm with essentially no lag, added a rear axle motor and a small high-discharge battery, and produced 671 horsepower from the smallest engine in the class. It is faster than the V8 it replaced in every measurable way.

It also weighs over two tonnes, sounds synthetic and thin where its predecessor sounded magnificent, and asks the driver to manage a set of hybrid modes to get the full output. The cabin is excellent and the technology genuinely leads. None of that saved it. Buyers stayed away, discounts appeared quickly, and residuals collapsed further and faster than any recent Mercedes, which makes a lightly used one a bargain and a new one a mistake. Complexity also means expensive years ahead. A fascinating cautionary tale.