Mercedes-AMG’s tire-slaying C63 loses its lid in New York

By Ronan Glon Published March 23, 2016

Mercedes-Benz is taking the New York Auto Show by storm. After showing us the facelifted CLA, the brand new GLC Coupe, the GLC43, and the E43, the Stuttgart-based car maker has unveiled the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet.

Designed to give the BMW M4 Convertible a run for its money, the C63 Cabriolet is powered by AMG’s ubiquitous twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine. It makes 469 horsepower between 5,500 and 6,250 rpm and 479 pound-feet of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm in its most basic state of tune, enough to send the C63 from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

The more extreme — and more expensive — C63 S uses an evolution of the hand-built eight tweaked to provide 503 ponies and 516 pound-feet of twist. The additional power lowers the C63’s zero-to-60 time to four seconds flat, and it allows the ragtop to hit a top speed of 174 mph. Both engines send their power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential that’s mechanical on the C63, and electronic on the S.

Both the C63 and the C63 S feature large ducts that direct cooling air into the engine bay, a twin-slat grille, a specific aluminum hood accented by twin power domes, flared fenders, and an air diffuser integrated into the bumper. The C63 rides on 18-inch wheels, while the C63 S sits on 19-inch alloys. Inside, the driver is treated to sport seats, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a carbon-fiber-look instrument cluster with a speedometer that goes up to 200 mph.

The multi-layer cloth soft top is available in black, dark brown, dark blue, or dark red, and it can be opened or closed at speeds of up to 31 mph. The C63 comes standard with Mercedes’ Airscarf technology, which provides neck-level heating that allows owners to drive topless even when the outside temperature starts to dip.

The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Cabriolet will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the fall. At launch, Mercedes will offer a limited-edition model called Edition 1 that builds on the C63 S with a special white paint job, a dash of gloss black accents, and sport seats upholstered with heat-reflecting diamond-quilted Nappa leather.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Topics

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.