Just as the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe was everything you thought it might be if you’ve looked around a Mercedes showroom these days, the hotter Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe instantly captures what you’d imagine a small Mercedes two-door with a bonkers engine would be. Yet Mercedes is still banking on the “distinctive” tag.

Mercedes just dropped all the official info on the C63 Coupe, including the specs. As with the C63 sedan and wagon that have already been released, the coupe gets the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with either 469 horses going to the rear wheels in the standard car, or the full 503 if you pony up for the C63S. While the base car is limited to 155 mph, the S can take you up to 180 mph.

It’s also mated here to the AMG’s 7-speed MCT transmission, with 0-60 sprints in 3.9 seconds for the base car, 3.8 for the S. To make the car sound more AMG-ish, perhaps, a performance exhaust option will be available.

A wider track is the first step in keeping the C63 on the road, the limited-slip differential helps too. It’s a mechanical setup on the C63, but the S gains and electronic diff Mercedes says has faster reflexes and works better with the stability control system. Available “Performance Seats” are supposed to keep you in place better than the standard sport seats if you plan to be going sideways in the C63 as much as going forward.

Versus the standard C-Class Coupe, the C63 version sports flared wheel arches and is more than two inches wider altogether. The hood is also lower and longer. In fact, Mercedes says the only parts shared with the more plebeian C coupes are the doors, roof and trunk lid. Perhaps the look is actually less of an S Coupe here, and more of the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car.

The C63 Coupe will be shown Sept. 15 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales starting next year, next summer for American buyers.

Photos

VIDEO