The Good news is that the C-Class keeps the snarly and viscous V8 with the 6.2-litre brute. The AMG cars come with their own axles that add more negative camber. This relates to a much sharper turn-in than the previous model. The rear sticks a bit more than before and I’m not sure that’s better. For the track it is but I’ve come to love AMG products because they aren’t track tools but immensely fun power sliding, arse-out machines.

IMAGE GALLERY HERE

There’s a three-stage ESP function that you can manually switch between on, sport handling and off. Sport handling catches the slides a little earlier but does give much better weight to the steering.

If you’ve got a bit of extra cash that you want to spend on your AMG you can hook up the performance package that will up power by 22kW and give you one tenth on your 100kph sprint, dropping it to 4.3 seconds.

No sign yet of the new double clutch gearbox so you’ll have to make do with the Speedshift MCT 7-speed automatic transmission. The ‘box is fine going up the gears, responding rapidly but going down on the paddles it will make you wait before engaging. Best practice I found for this was to leave the ‘box in S+ automatic mode and let it do the work for you.

SHORT AMG VIDEO HERE

More on this AMG model and the new E63 range in January’s Topcar, on sale 5 December 2011.

FOR: Sound, theatre and performance that doesn’t kill the comfort aspect

AGAINST: Not as absolutely bonkersly sideways as the previous model

PICK OF THE RANGE: Coupe with the performance pack

ALTERNATIVE CHOICES: The obvious but older M3, the not so good RS5 or a Maserati Gran Turismo if you want a real coupe.

TOPCAR RATING: 8/10