Tang and the CSL AutoTime crew are back with a fairly weird quarter-mile showdown between an F80-generation M3 and the W463-series G 63. Before going any further, it should be mentioned that CSL AutoTime presenter Tang modified his performance sedan with a few go-faster goodies.
Pictured on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber, the rear-drive sedan features aftermarket charge pipes, a new intercooler, a carbon-fiber intake kit from Eventuri, plus an X-pipe. Instead of the original ratings of 431 ps and 550 Nm, which are 425 horses and 406 pound-feet, Tang's M3 belts out 440 ps and 580 Nm (434 hp and 428 lb-ft).
That's pretty close to what BMW claims for the G80-series M3 in base specification. The new-gen sixer of the G80 develops 480 ps and 550 Nm from the outset, although everyone and their dog knows that BMW's crankshaft numbers of 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet are slightly off.
Tipping the scales at 1,560 kilograms or pounds, the F80 has to prove itself against a considerably heavier machine with four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, and three locking differentials to its name. As opposed to the refreshed G 63, this fellow doesn't feature 48-volt hybrid assistance.
Its 4.0-liter V8 puts out 585 metric horses and 850 Nm or 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet, which are similar max output figures to those of the new one. However, the integrated starter generator of the 2025 model assists the hot-vee powerplant with a further 20 horsepower and 148 pound-feet (200 Nm) at low engine speeds.
Photo: CSL AutoTime on YouTube
Weighing in at 2,560 kilograms (5,644 pounds), the Mercedes-AMG G 63 is a body-on-frame leviathan with an AMG-specific automatic transmission. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G differs from the MCT by means of a torque converter, whereas MCT stands for multi-plate clutch transmission.
As for the AMG Performance 4MATIC system, it features a rear-biased torque distribution with a split of 40 percent for the front wheels and 60 to the rears. The dual-clutch tranny of the F80 may shift quicker than AMG's torque-converter automatic, but due to rear-wheel drive on dusty tarmac, it struggles from a dig.
Its owner extracted a best of 13.13 seconds at 189 kilometers per hour (117 miles per hour) in the quarter mile, which is alright for a vehicle developed more than a decade ago with little in the way of upgrades. The G 63 posted 13.08 seconds at 165 kilometers per hour (103 miles per hour), but sadly couldn't better the unibody sedan from a low-speed rolling start.
Had CSL AutoTime been given access to a longer strip of tarmac, Tang would have clocked 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour) with the electronic limiter still in place or 174 miles per hour (280 kilometers per hour) with the optional driver's package. The Mercedes-AMG G 63 tops either 137 mph (220 kilometers per hour) by default or 149 mph (240 kph).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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