Mercedes C63 AMG DR520

Text: Tom Phillips / Photos: Pete Gibson

August 2010

• Rating:
• Latest deal price: from £6,433 to £9,606

FROM the silky smooth E-Class Cabriolet to this sledgehammer C-Class! The DR520 is based on Mercedes’ already-potent C63 AMG, and is the fastest C-Class money can buy. It’s been created by the firm’s flagship UK dealer,Mercedes-Benz Brooklands, and only 20 cars – 15 saloons and five estates – will be built.

Buyers will have the choice of matt white or black paint, with titanium-finish alloy wheels and extra badging. Inside is a set of sports seats and Alcantara trim, but the main changes are reserved for the engine.

Officially, DR520 stands for ‘Dyno Rated at 520 metric horsepower’. That equates to 513bhp, or 62bhp more than the standard car delivers.

This has been achieved by adding the AMG Performance Pack Plus, which brings forged pistons, new con rods and a revised crankshaft. Ask the AMG engineers at Brooklands in Surrey, and they reckon DR should stand for de-restricted, as top speed has been raised from 155mph to 187mph.

Regardless of its name, this car is incredibly quick. The engine is great, providing a broad spread of torque and effortless acceleration in any gear, at any speed. It sounds fantastic, emitting a guttural roar from its quad exhausts.

The seven-speed auto gearbox is super-smooth, the steering is very positive and the brakes excellent. But the handling can’t match that of a BMW M3 – partly because the C63 weighs 1,795kg, but mostly due to the suspension being too firm for UK roads.

Expansion gaps send thumps through the cabin, compromising the otherwise impressive refinement, while poorly surfaced B-roads jiggle passengers around. The major issue with this car, though, is price. The DR520 costs £9,995 more than a standard C63, and provides relatively small rewards. The extra power makes only a minor difference, while the new top speed isn’t much use away from Germany’s autobahns.