2018 Mercedes-AMG C 63 FACELIFT – the AMG C-Class goes BIG grille

The Mercedes AMG C 63 models – Saloon, Estate, Coupé and Cabriolet – get a facelift for 2018 including new Panamericana grille and new nine-speed gearbox.

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 arrives at the New York Motor Show with a raft of titivations for 2018, although none of them do anything for the C 63’s power, with the regular C 63 still delivering 469bhp and the C 63 S 503bhp. But they didn’t need any extra.

But the oily bits do change a bit, with the old seven-speed automatic replace by the nine-speed you’ll find in the E 63, which means cleaner, faster shifts and better ratios to make the most of the torque. Mind you, Mercedes still quote the same 0-62mph times the outgoing C 63 has despite the refinement improvements the new gearbox brings.

Perhaps the standout cosmetic titivate for 2018 is the arrival of the in yer face Panamericana grille which dominates the front of the new C 63 – whether Saloon, Estate, Coupé or Cabriolet, and it’s joined by a pir of drainpipe-sized tail pipes at the back. If you want to shout a bit louder you can spec the AMG Aerodynamics Pack which adds a bigger front splitter, bigger side skirts and a spoiler lip.

Inside gets the latest 12.3″ digital instruments – oddly still binnacled like the old analogue dials – and there’s the latest AMg steering wheel too, with familiar Artico/Dynamica seat coverings and some new trims including open-pore oak and open-pore walnut and options including AMG Performance seats, Nappa leather and Designo stuff.

Mercedes hasn’t decided on prices for the 2018 AMG C 63 range yet, but with the facelifted models expected to go on sale in the Uk in the summer they’ll have to make up their minds soon.