Mercedes just had to do this, eh? Light is cool, efficient is sexy, and though delicate weapons are in, M-B's ever crazier AMG arm keeps making Howitzers, Seriously: BMW's cooing about its slick new M3, with its tiny, featherlight, ultra efficient 4.0-litre V8, but what Merc's done is put a tyrannosaur of an engine in a car of the same size.

Yes, the new C63 AMG is going to be high-tech (extremely so), and a much better driver's car than C-Classes past, but all technology and chassis refinements pale in front of the 6208cc of the C63's new V8. The new M3 squeezes out 420bhp and 400Nm, the Audi RS4 a healthy 414bhp and 430Nm from a 4.2 V8; the Merc, mind, makes 457bhp and a tractor-like 600Nm of torque. It's heavier than both its rivals, but with this pulling power, acceleration is going to be epic. Top speed, naturally, will be limited to 250kph (why? why? why?) but Merc claims it'll do 0-100 in 4.5 seconds, which is close to supercar standards.

There's plenty of twisty-road talent too. The C63 will use the CLK 63 Black's front subframe, and much more aggressive suspension geometry than standard Cs. It'll also get the new Advanced Agility Package - soon to be an option on all Cs, this has a Sport mode that stiffens the dampers and speeds up gearshifts, steering and throttle response.

We can't wait. Of course, the C63 looks raunchy too, with flared arches and two power bulges to the M3's one (naturally).