Mercedes C63 Black Series leaked

By Jack Rix

07th July 2011

It's the most extreme C-Class ever! This detailed series of pictures, taken at the Paul Ricard test circuit in the South of France, has leaked onto the web showing the pumped-up three-door in all its glory.

The C63 AMG Black Series Coupe is the fourth addition to Mercedes' no-holds-barred Black Series line-up, that already includes the wild CLK63 AMG Black Series and SLK55 AMG Black Series from 2007 and the SL65 AMG Black Series from 2008. The Black Series formula is tried and tested and includes bespoke bodywork with comically-flared arches, more power and less weight, plus other mechanical tweaks to sharpen the handling.

The newcomer sticks closely to this template, but isn't quite as focused as the CLK63 AMG Black Series it effectively replaces. There are still four seats - albeit wafer thing buckets in the front - instead of just two on the older car, and just 20kg has reportedly been stripped from the kerbweight. As you can see though, the brutish bodywork will mark this car out from the standard AMG Coupe.

Under the bonnet is the familiar 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 with 510bhp - 30bhp more than the standard car fitted with the AMG Performance Package - and 640Nm of torque. That should make a 0-62mph time in just over four seconds possible and a limited top speed of 155mph. Lower, firmer suspension, bigger brakes and a rear limited slip differential should ensure its handling is worthy of the Black Series badge.

Although there's no official word on price yet, reports suggest that it will cost less than £100,000 when it goes on sale in this country - undercutting its main rival the £116,000 BMW M3 GTS - and there will be no cap on the production run.