The heart of the C63 is its 6.2-litre V8. Peak power of 451bhp is impressive, but it's the mid-range pull that really counts, hurling the C63 towards the horizon. Making use of all this performance is easy, thanks to the superb seven-speed automatic gearbox. There are paddles behind the steering wheel for manual control, a sports mode that blips the throttle on downshifts, and a comfort mode for silky smooth gearchanges.

Some AMG models are all grip and no finesse, but not the C63. The steering is direct and full of feel, with remarkable agility when the road twists and turns, especially with the stability control in sport mode. Unlike some Mercedes, however, the C63 doesn't allow the driver to adjust suspension settings, and the ride is very firm.

The C63's cabin isn't as hushed as most C-Class's, but it's still quiet enough for long drives. Those big tyres kick up more road noise than the standard car, and there's some wind noise at the legal limit, too. The fabulous V8 settles into the background when cruising, although you can still hear the exhaust burbling away.

AMG products normally cost a little more than BMW's M-badged equivalents and the C-Class is no different - it's a couple of thousand more than a BMW M3. Add another £1000 for the estate. Running costs, especially fuel bills, are sky-high, though, and the car's limited range means frequent fuel stops.

Mercedes took some flak for letting standards slip a few years ago. The C-Class shows it's getting back on the right track, with a high standard of fit and finish. AMG says the engine could be engineered to deliver as much as 600bhp, and that restricting it to 'just' 451bhp should guarantee day-to-day reliability.

Mercedes hasn't skimped on safety kit, with seven airbags, an electronic stability program, and a host of other electronic aids. Extremely powerful brakes should also play their part in avoiding an accident. Deadlocks are fitted to prevent car thieves opening a door after breaking through a window.

There's plenty of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel, so drivers of all shapes and sizes should find a comfortable position. The heavily bolstered seats grip your torso firmly through corners, but broader drivers may find them uncomfortably tight. Once you're used to the usual Mercedes quirks, such as the single stalk for indicators and wipers, the controls are well placed and easy to use.

The Mercedes comes as a four-door saloon or a five-door estate, both giving plenty of room for four adults. A fifth passenger will find that the stout transmission tunnel gets in the way of their feet, however. The estate version has up to 1500 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded.

Most of the kit you would expect in a £50,000 car are fitted as standard - such as leather seats, climate control and all round electic windows. There's lots of AMG styling throughout the cabin and if you want to enhance your C63 further you can replace the aluminium trim details with carbon fibre. Futher option packages are available - such as a performance package that includes uprated brakes, limited slip differential and suspension changes.