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.
