AMG

2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
AMG specializes in developing high-performance versions of production Mercedes cars.
A Short 40-Year History

There's been an AMG version of most every Mercedes model for the last several years. The 2008 fleet runs from this "entry-level" C63 to the big V12 S65 sedan and CL65 coupe that pack 604 horsepower and cost close to $200,000.

Many people know the AMG badge but little about its background. The initials stand for founders Hans-Werner Aufrecht (A) and Erhard Melcher (M) and the German town of Grossapach (G), where they set up shop back in 1967. Then as now, AMG specializes in developing high-performance versions of production Mercedes and various racing cars from mild to wild. AMG won its first race in 1971, and continued piling up victories through the 1980s and '90s while selling ever more of its tuned-up limited-edition road cars. Impressed by this success, Mercedes parent Daimler-Benz (now Daimler AG) began collaborating with AMG in 1990. Nine years later, it took a majority stake to make AMG its in-house performance division. Daimler took full control in 2004.

The C63 is the fifth AMG model based on Mercedes' compact rear-wheel-drive C-Class sedan. The line began with 1995's V6-powered C36 and continued for '98 with the V8 C43. For 2001 came the C32 with a supercharged V6 under the hood and "Kompressor" badges outside. The C55 AMG of 2004 reverted to a normally aspirated V8, a 5.4-liter rated at 362 horsepower.