So, after all the teasing build-up - including the camouflaged car at the Hockenheimring, a video of the noise of the beast and an obfuscated photo - here is our first view of the Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé in the raw. And we've got full details on it, too. Hooray!
Exterior
Precisely three bits of the bodywork of the regular C-Class Coupé (itself only recently revealed) are carried over for the Mercedes-AMG version: the doors, roof and bootlid. Everything else is different. You'll notice this most with the wheel arches, which are flared front and rear to make the C 63 64- and 66mm wider respectively. This is to accommodate a wider track and fat tyres (up to 285mm on the rear axle) on those big AMG alloys. Mercedes-AMG also says the car has been reinforced underneath to compensate for 'extreme longitudinal and lateral forces' generates by the powertrain and suspension.
The aluminium bonnet is 60mm longer, too, and is defined by a pair of strakes running its length. The front has the AMG 'A-wing' air intake, plenty of flics, the twin-bar grille and a discreet splitter to negate axle lift. The C 63's mirrors are mounted on the door, rather than in the mirror triangle, while at the back is a diffuser, quad exhausts and another small spoiler on the boot to keep the business axle pressed into the road as much as possible.
Interior
Mercedes is a bit brief here, saying it has 'numerous AMG-specific controls' and standard sports seats in Artico/microfibre Dinamica man-made leather. Optional performance seats, which we're guessing will be bucket chairs, provide a lower driving position and increased lateral support. And as the C-Class has one of the best cabins in the business, you can bet the AMG C 63 will be fine inside.
Mechanicals
As predicted, the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 is carried over from the saloon and Estate C 63 models, making two outputs: 476hp and 650Nm for the, er... entry-level version, and 510hp/700Nm for the S. Irrespective of engine trim, these figures are delivered at 5,500- to 6,250rpm (hp) and 1,750- to 4,500rpm (Nm).
Such ludicrous grunt in a relatively small body means epic performance. While both are limited to the German maximum of 250km/h (or 290km/h, with the AMG Driver's Package), the S can hit 100km/h from rest in 3.9 seconds, while the 476hp C 63 manages the same benchmark in 4.0 seconds dead. These figures are a tenth quicker than the equivalent saloon C 63 versions, thanks to wider tyres and shorter final drive ratios for the Coupé.
The V8's power is deployed via a seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT gearbox to the rear wheels, while the C 63 benefits from AMG Ride Control (adjustable damping) and AMG Dynamic Select (transmission modes); depending on which mode the latter is in, an exhaust flap is opened automatically to make the Mercedes-AMG sing even louder. And there's an optional Performance Exhaust system on the cards, too.
Mercedes-AMG has done a lot of work on the suspension, including creating a bespoke rear axle carrier for the C 63 Coupé, which means the company is claiming greater lateral acceleration (i.e., more grip) and therefore sharper handling than the saloon. The 476hp C 63 has 10-spoke 18-inch wheels as standard, while the S gets 19-inch five-spoke items; both cars have limited-slip differentials, mechanical for the regular spec and electronic for the S. Like the saloon and Estate, the C 63 Coupé has dynamic engine mounts and a raft of electronic safety features.
Finally, and we're sure this is the bit you were all waiting for, both Coupé models can achieve 8.6 litres/100km (32.8mpg) economy and as little as 200g/km CO2 emissions; these figures are behind what the saloon C 63 can return, mind.
Anything else?
The C 63 Coupé is due for a debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show next month and Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG, said: "The new C 63 Coupé embodies our conception of progress: It offers impressive longitudinal and lateral dynamics at an extremely high level along with improved fuel economy. In addition, we are making a bold visual statement with the muscular design. Our customers can therefore experience the progress with each of their senses: seeing, hearing, feeling and, above all, driving!"