AMG has ripped the roof off the Merc C63. Expect noise

AMG itself describes the ambience – if you can call it that – as ‘intensive’, and with a biturbo V8 on board and no roof, you’d be hard pushed to disagree. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mercedes-AMG’s star of New York, the new C63 Cabriolet.

Unveiled at NYC's motor show, the new convertible comes with the now familiar 4.0-litre, turbocharged V8 up front, together with dynamic engine mounts. Just like in the C63 Saloon, Estate and Coupe, then, and the AMG GT supercar.

Here, though, is the first time the engine's soundtrack has no fixed roof to overcome. Instead, there's a folding automatic fabric soft top, which, if you’re interested, can be opened and closed from speeds of up to 31mph. Roof up, no problem. Roof down? There’s Merc’s ‘air scarf’ to keep you cosy.

But park the convenience for a moment, because you need to know about the power. There’s the ‘standard’ 476bhp version which you don’t want, or the range-topping C63 ‘S’ version which you do, because it comes with 510bhp. And that’s more. There’s also a healthy 516lb ft of torque available from as little as 1,750rpm, while both versions come linked to a seven speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel-drive.

Mercedes-AMG quotes the 0-62mph time as 4.1 seconds for the ‘S’, or just 4.2secs for the standard car, while both are pegged at top speeds of 155mph. Because Germany. Tick the box marked ‘AMG Drivers’ Package’, and that top speed climbs to 174mph. 

The standard exhaust – tuned for the Cabriolet – can be switched for the optional ‘Performance’ version, which allows more noise at the push of a button. AMG reckons even this version complies with ‘all noise limits’. There’s your usual gamut of AMG suspension paraphernalia too, here shared with the C63 Coupe: three modes ranging through ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’, stockier track widths, and a unique rear axle setup over the four-door and estate (the wheel bearings are a further 25mm wider than both).

Diffs? There are some. The standard car gets the mechanical differential, C63 S gets the electronic one. There are brakes,  too;the lower-powered car gets 360mm discs, while the S gets 390mm rotors, and you can even go as high as 402mm if you spend some extra money.

Good-looking thing too, isn’t it? Flared arches, extra width, that domed bonnet, quad exhausts and many aero additions. The interior too – as in any other C-Class AMG – is a quality cabin, replete with lots of leather and aluminium. 

UK orders open in May, with deliveries in October, when the air scarf will come in particularly handy. Though there's no word on prices, as yet. Fancy it?