IT STARTS FROM THE MOMENT THAT IT starts. Or rather it doesn’t. Start, that is. Because when you press the button on the dash that would normally instigate a lumpen rumble, nothing happens. By default the new C63 S E Performance comes to life in Comfort mode, and as such it wakes silently and moves stealthily, solely under electric power.
There have been moments – early morning moments – when my polite, neighbourly sensibility would have given quite a lot to be able to pull this party trick in a C63. With this one, there need be no more awkward apologies for startling slumbering villagers. Mrs Saydees and her cat, Bence, at number 55 can sleep in peace.
Admittedly it’s less of a concern at Malaga airport in the middle of the day with an Airbus A321 taking off every other minute, but nonetheless it rams home the point nice and early that this is a very different sort of C63. And, just as we’ve noted with the 296 GTB and Artura, the ability to travel under electric power and slip by quietly is rather appealing at times. Even when you’re miles from sleeping neighbours, it spares you scowls in town, and there is an undoubted smoothness and swiftness of response from a standstill as you work your way through heavy traffic. However, as with the supercars from Ferrari and McLaren,
