Mercedes’ tuning division, AMG, has slotted in a 450bhp 6.3-litre V8 engine into the humble C Class Merc

With a 6.3-litre AMG-tuned V8 engine and a race-tuned chassis, the mental Merc is happy tearing up the tarmac or lugging around the shopping and the Labrador.

In Stuart Milne's absence, Vijay Pattni salutes the machine which paved the way for the estate – the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG saloon.

Click here for more pictures of the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG

Super-saloons are dominating the headlines at the moment – the benchmark BMW M3; the amazing Audi RS4; the loony Lexus IS-F and the tenth generation of the mental Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

So when Mercedes-Benz threw its hat into the ring, anticipation was high – and the engineers at Merc’s tuning arm AMG did not disappoint.

Take a standard Mercedes-Benz C Class – a fine saloon in its own right – and ramp up the excitement.

It has a seven speed automatic gearbox.

It features suspension which is twice as stiff as the standard car.

It has wider tracks at the front and rear of the car coupled to a massive bodykit.

And underneath the bulging bonnet lies the heart of a medieval monster and the real focus of the C63 AMG – a 6.3-litre V8.

Mercedes’ tuning division, AMG, has slotted in a 450bhp 6.3-litre V8 engine into the humble C Class Merc, featuring a massive 442lb/ft of pulling power.

To emphasise the massive engine’s distinction, each 6.3-litre AMG unit is hand-built in Germany, with one engineer building one complete engine – buy a Mercedes C63 AMG and you’ll find the name of the engineer who built a particular engine stamped onto the block.

And the 450bhp muscle allows the 1700kg Mercedes C63 AMG to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph.

Astonishingly, some independent testers have found the C63 AMG can accelerate from 0-60mph in under four seconds – making it quicker than some Ferraris.

But what marks this new hot Mercedes from its predecessors is one vital ingredient - balance.

Earlier fast Mercedes were vastly powerful machines but all lacked on-road composure. Jeremy Clarkson famously took on an eight-man rugby team with the ludicrously powerful Mercedes CL65 – and lost.

The C63 AMG however, has been engineered to have dynamic polish from the start, and instead of shoehorning the biggest AMG engine into a road-going Merc, the C63 AMG has been built as a proper sports saloon.

As a hint to the car’s sporting prowess, the front architecture is lifted from the CLK63 AMG – which features in the Mercedes-Benz Formula One safety car.

But there is another overwhelming factor which the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG has in spades.

Aside from the massive power, the excellent driving dynamics and the appeal of the famous three-pointed star stuck on the bonnet, the Mercedes C63 AMG looks absolutely fantastic.

It oozes menace thanks to a huge front bumper, 19-inch alloy wheels and twin exhausts at the back.