According to the brochure Mercedes-AMG C63 running costs could be considered quite reasonable – after all with sub 200g/km CO2 emissions annual VED car tax is similar to the BMW M3 and is far lower than the Audi RS4, while it promises 34.5mpg on the combined economy cycle. Choose the S performance version and that drops to 33.6mpg, though CO2 emissions remain the same. The firm is claiming it is the world’s most fuel-efficient eight-cylinder high-performance car, consuming around 32 percent less fuel than the C63 that came before.

But what is written down on paper doesn’t always translate into reality. After all, if you use this car like AMG’s engineers intended that economy figure will suffer a dramatic downfall – though you will enjoy your brief times before refilling the tanks enough to make the deficit worthwhile.

And driven this way the tyres and brakes will take a hammering, resulting in semi-frequent replacements – the 19-inch wheels on the S model will be particularly expensive to re-shoe with fresh rubber. Expect insurance to be on the higher side as well, since the Mercedes-AMG C63 sits in the top insurance group bracket.

Clearly if you’re worried about Mercedes-AMG C63 emissions you’re looking at the wrong type of car. That said, considering it produces between 469bhp and 503bhp alongside 650-700Nm of torque, the 192-196g/km CO2 figure is rather impressive.

There’s no penalty for choosing the more powerful S either, since both saloon models emit the lower 192g/km figure, and both estates manage 196g/km. To put that in perspective, the BMW M3 manages just 194g/km and the Audi RS4 emits 249g/km.

This might be an all-new engine, so far only seen in the AMG GT, but we’d expect it to ensure Mercedes-AMG C63 reliability is impervious to fault. After all, as an AMG the whole unit is built entirely by one person’s hands – hence the signature on top – in the firm’s Affalterbach factory and due to its high revving nature tolerances are incredibly tight.

The C63 sticks with the firm’s familiar seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT (dual clutch) gearbox too, which has been used in numerous cars and has previously handled more power and torque than this – it’s likely to prove bullet proof.

Do be mindful what trim you select for the cabin of your C63 though, as we’ve noticed on standard C-Class’ the piano black inlay used on the centre console scratches easily – though it looks like the carbon finish will withstand a little more abuse before becoming permanently marked.