Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Surprised to see a Mercedes finish ahead of a McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin? Well don’t be, because the C63 AMG Coupe fully deserves its podium place.

With its sleek looks, spine- tingling soundtrack and nimble chassis, the C63 is arguably AMG’s best effort yet. Unlike previous hot Mercs, the rakish two-door combines trademark pace with a new-found finesse.

However, as with every AMG machine, it’s the engine that’s at the heart of the car. Turn the key, and the 451bhp 6.2-litre V8 crackles into life, before settling down to a menacing burble. Squeeze the throttle pedal, and the Coupe is catapulted down the road, accompanied by a snarling, bellowing exhaust note.

Yet there’s more to the C63 than scorching straight-line pace. Engineers at AMG have clearly spent a lot of time honing the chassis.

The standard car’s adaptive dampers have been ditched in favour of gas items, the suspension is lowered and stiffened and there’s also a sharper steering system. Factor in the car’s traditional front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout and you have a perfect recipe for driving fun.

The steering is direct and full of feedback, allowing you to turn with accuracy, while strong front-end grip inspires huge confidence. Better still, the Coupe’s line through a corner can be subtly adjusted using a combination of throttle and steering. Switch off the three-stage ESP and you can indulge in smoky, showboating tail-slides.

Yet when you want to get home in comfort, the AMG turns into a sophisticated cruiser, with its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission serving up seamless shifts.

Better still, there are equally entertaining saloon and estate versions for buyers who need a dash more practicality. Only the brilliance of our winner stops the remarkable C63 from taking overall honours.

Facts & Figures

Price|Total as tested: £57,165Engine|capacity: 6.2-litre V8Peak Power: 451bhp at 6,800rpmPeak Torque: 600Nm at 5,000rpmKerbweight: 1,730kg0-60: 4.5secsTop speed: 155mphLap Time: 64.6