The new black

motoring

Black diamond

Kevin Yeung tests the Mercedes-Benz C63 Black – and his wife falls in love.

head out on the highway

Poetry in motion: the C63 Black.

The first thing you notice is the stance: aggressive and menacing. Then the shape: theatrical but athletic. The Mercedes-Benz C63 Black Series has a veracity of purpose and clarity that resonates with any car enthusiast. Just as exercise improves the human silhouette, so cars inspired by motorsport never fail to appeal. They are emphatically purposeful.

What’s the big deal? Well, the C63 Black lapped Germany’s Nürburgring in seven minutes and 43 seconds. It sold out almost as quickly, becoming the first Mercedes in history to sell out its entire production run of 1,000 units immediately after it was announced. Journalists raved about it. Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson claimed, “The C63 Black is the best thing to come out of Germany since Eva Padberg.”

I was curious to find out what all the fuss was about – especially given the C63 Black costs twice as much as the accomplished "regular" model, the C63 AMG.

Despite its exotic exterior, the Black’s cabin is pure Mercedes. Everything is intuitive and setting up a perfect driving position is super easy. I hit the starter button and the V8 engine bursts into life, accompanied by a glorious eruption of sound. As the revs settle, I select Sport Plus, prod the gear lever to D and I’m off.

Threading along Stubbs Road, I note the lightness and precision of the steering, while constantly aware of the gargling 6.2-litre 517bhp engine. It makes its presence felt with a useful 457 lb/ft of torque as I ascend the Peak.

Once the traffic clears, I experience the revised M156 engine (the same power plant as the SLS – lighter crankshaft and forged pistons and connecting rods). Its power corrupts: devastating acceleration is coupled with a soundtrack straight out of Le Mans. This car has soul.

The paddle-operated Speedshift MCT 7 transmission allows rapid gear changes in 100 milliseconds while the Black’s supremely tactile chassis encourages me to enjoy its capabilities with total confidence. The C63 Black Series is one of the most potent road cars ever – a bona fide DTM racer with license plates.

When I return home, my wife wants to give it a try. And when she does, she wants one – more than anything. This presents a problem as Hong Kong’s entire allocation is already sold out, with the exception of this registered demo model with 120km on the clock. I call Zung Fu, Mercedes' retailer in Hong Kong.

Two days later, the Black is ours. Equipped with a baby seat for our son, it now serves as possibly Hong Kong’s fastest school bus. Who said diamonds are a girl’s best friend? Not my wife.

Kevin Yeung is a founder of Feeding Hong Kong, a Council Member of Unicef — and a motoring enthusiast.