The Mercedes-Benz C Class already has a hugely capable and entertaining performance model in the 451-horsepower C63. But a refreshed C Class is expected to bow at next month’s Detroit Auto Show, and an exotic Black Series Coupe is expected to follow later in the year.

Inside Line reports that a conversation with Mercedes spokespeople has revealed that the 6.2-liter in the C63 will not be tweaked for Black Series duty, opting instead for the company’s twin-turbo 5.5-liter mill. That powertrain, as you may recall, already puts out 571 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque in the S63 AMG. That’s 71 more ponies than the the CLK AMG Black Series and more twist than almost anything this side of a diesel-powered heavy-duty pickup truck. That should help justify the expected $100k-plus price tag of the rarest of AMG variants, while simultaneously making every BMW M3 owner a bit leery of a race with the Black Series coupe. –AB
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