Will the 2.0L-Powered 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 Wagon Pose a Threat to the BMW M3 Touring?

A true five-door variant of the M3 Sedan, the first-ever M3 Touring is offered in the Competition flavor only, with a rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system, a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission, and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six. The engine makes 503 hp (510 ps / 375 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque, enabling a 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in 3.6 seconds, and a 174 mph (280 kph) top speed.

Besides the punchy mill, gearbox, M-tuned AWD, and distinctive looks, including the bucktooth grille, the M3 Touring also features a re-tuned chassis, with stiffer suspension. It has an Active M differential, high-performance brakes, with optional ceramic discs, and 19- and 20-inch forged alloys. Despite its more practical nature, with up to 53.3 cubic feet (1,510 liters) of storage with the rear seats folded down, it is very fast. In fact, it is the quickest wagon on the Nurburgring, having lapped it in 7:35.060 minutes.

Thus, it already has a significant advantage over one of its biggest rivals, the Audi RS 4 Avant, which also uses a six-pot, with twin-turbocharging, only this one is a 2.9-liter V6. The 444 hp (450 ps / 331 kW) and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) produced rocket it to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.9 seconds, and up to 180 mph (290 kph) when had with the Competition Package. It too uses an eight-speed gearbox, and an all-wheel-drive system, albeit front-biased, dubbed the Quattro.

Mercedes-AMG’s answer to the BMW M3 Touring, and the Audi RS 4 Avant, the C 63 Wagon, is currently in the process of being completely renewed. The 2023 model has yet to drop the camouflage, and when it does, it will reveal the Panamericana grille up front, with vertical slats, bigger front and rear bumpers, roof-mounted spoiler, quad exhaust pipes, AMG badging, exclusive wheels and colors, and a few other bits and bobs. The retuned chassis, sharper steering, and improved braking system will be part of the makeover too, further setting it apart from the regular five-door C-Class models.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? It sure does, until you remember that unlike its predecessor, which featured a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, the upcoming C 63 will pack a 2.0-liter inline-four. Likely the one used in the ‘45’ lineup, it is understood to produce around 450 hp, and with the electric motor, it should have up to around 650 hp combined in boost mode to play with. If true, then the output will give it a 200-hp advantage over the RS 4 Avant, and a 140-hp one over the M3 Touring.

With this move, Mercedes-AMG has made the C 63 Estate (and Sedan) future-proof, but they have lost the cool factor, as enthusiasts will always be tempted to go for a bigger motor, and therefore might choose its rivals, unless they’re diehard AMG fans. We wouldn’t be surprised if the company tries to compensate for the lack of a sonorous mill with fake engine noise; after all, they hope that petrolheads will forget about it, as it does feature four tailpipes, one for each cylinder.

Only time will tell if the 2023 C 63 Wagon will live up to expectations, and fortunately, we won’t have to wait that long to find out everything there is to know about it, as it should launch before the end of the year. The question is, which of the three would you buy and why? It’s a tricky one, though for me, it would probably be the RS 4 Avant, for that gorgeous design, and potent quattro AWD.