MERCEDES C63
PRICE:
R1 600 000
This is by far the most complex C-Class ever, combining combustion power with three electric support acts. AMG’s M139 turbo engine (as seen in the A45 S hyper hatch) is aided by an electric rear-wheel-drive unit and an integrated starter-generator (ISG). The turbo itself is AMG’s new electrically-assisted design, designed to help kill lag. The way these components complement each other, working together to deliver huge and seamless outputs, will be key to helping the world get over the fact there’s no V8 under the bonnet. The most intriguing piece of engineering is the twin-power rear axle, through which the car deploys both its 201bhp e-motor and the 443bhp from its petrol four, relayed via the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system. The e-module operates independently from the transmission, which would otherwise struggle with the e-motor’s instant torque. The aggregate output will be more than 600bhp, making it far punchier than the new M3 Competition.
