Power from the 6.2 litre V8 is increased from 451 bhp (336 kW / 457 PS) to 513 bhp. That’s equivalent to 382 kW, or 520 PS - hence the name (the ‘DR’ part apparently stands for ‘dyno rated’). Torque is similarly raised from 600 Nm to 650 Nm, so prospective owners might want to sign up to any loyalty schemes their local tyre shops are running.
The improvements come courtesy of the AMG Performance Pack Plus, which includes forged pistons, newly-developed connecting rods, a revised crankshaft and composite front brake discs. But that only accounts for an extra 30 bhp. Curiously, Mercedes-Benz isn’t being specific about where it’s getting the other 32 bhp from. Probably a re-mapped ECU?
As expected, it’s a bit quicker than the standard C 63 AMG, with the saloon’s 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time reduced from 4.5 seconds to 4.1 seconds (the estate lags just 0.1 second behind). The speed limiter has also been adjusted, meaning the DR 520 will top out at 187 mph (300 km/h), instead of the usual 155 mph (250 km/h).
The colour choice is between a black or white matt wrap, something that either looks the business or is a bit too ‘Max Power’, depending on your viewpoint. The alloy wheels and grille get a titanium finish, plus there are DR 520 badges on the wings and boot lid.
Available only from the Specialist Products Division of Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands, Surrey, prices are £62,430 for the saloon and £63,680 for the estate. That’s a premium of around £10,000 over the 451 bhp C 63 AMG, or £5,000 more than a C63 AMG fitted with the optional Performance Pack Plus.
