C63 AMG Concept 358 – Jaffa

C63 AMG Concept 358 – Jaffa

Mercedes has unveiled a zestier version of its C63 AMG performance sedan at the 2010 Sydney motor show.

The German car maker has heralded the introduction of a new C63 performance pack with a one-off show special painted in a bright-orange metallic. Mercedes has nicknamed the car “Jaffa” but it adopts the official moniker of Concept 358 – in deference to the uprated C63′s higher, 358kW power output.

The Concept 358 features a designo Pearl Orange paint job from AMG and, for the Australian market, launches the AMG Performance Package Plus for the C63 AMG sedan and wagon. The package bundles black 19-inch multispoke alloy wheels, Keyless Go and designo leather trim, while boosting engine output to 480 horsepower (up from 451).

Mercedes C63 AMG Concept 358

The Performance Package Plus gives the C63 extra juice by increasing power by 22kW through a number of engine tweaks that include forged pistons borrowed from the SLS “Gullwing” supercar, a lighter crankshaft and recalibrated engine software.

Torque remains unchanged at 600Nm, but the company says a 3kg weight saving improves the engine’s response. Claimed performance times are reduced by a tenth for the 0-100km/h sprint (now 4.4sec) and 1.3 seconds for 0-200 (now 13.9sec).

The pack, which will cost C63 sedan/wagon buyers about an extra $15,000 when it becomes available in early 2011, also introduces bigger front brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, a carbonfibre lip spoiler for the sedan, and nappa leather and alcantara sports steering wheel.

Mercedes says buyers can order a C63 in the colours and trim of the Concept 358, which was co-designed by Mercedes Australia and built by AMG exclusively for the Sydney motor show.

However, while a C63 starts at $150,980 for the sedan version, customers will need to stump up “at least

“$200,000″ for the colour/trim combination the company says would be “virtually impossible to duplicate”.

The 358′s pearl orange metallic coating, for starters, costs tens of thousands of dollars, while it also features distinctive blacked-out chrome for exterior body parts such as the grille.

The orange theme continues inside – with orange stitching for the black leather seats, orange trim highlights and orange-illuminated door sills.

Wonder if/when we’ll see the C63 Jaffa for sale?

Related posts:

1. Mercedes SLS AMG Night Black
2. C63 AMG Edition 63 – Special Edition C63 Mercedes for Australia