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Mercedes-AMG previews new C63 Coupe ahead of August 19 reveal

Mercedes has been spending the month of July preparing us all of the debut of the new AMG-fettled C-Class coupe. It dropped an enigmatic teaser video on us at the beginning of the month, followed by a handful of teaser images, and another video after that. Now it's released another batch of images to give us a taste of what to expect. These prototype pictured is still heavily camouflaged, so there's little more to tell from them than we already saw from the spy shots we brought you back in April. We can see the front end a bit better, bearing what looks like the same lower air dam as the C63 sedan, but everything save for the front part of the greenhouse is covered up in the swirly stuff. While the photos posted on the Mercedes-Benz Facebook page refer to this as the C63 Coupe, the AMG post references the Mercedes-AMG C-Class Coupe. Either way, we're expecting it to pack the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the sedan (as well as the AMG GT), likely to be made available once again in 469- and 503-horsepower states of tune. Affalterbach has also posted a countdown timer on its website, with 23 days left to go until the new muscle coupe makes its debut. So mark your calendars for August 19, and watch this space for more as the German automaker is sure to keep trickling out more photos, videos, and information between now and then. Related Video:

China's BAIC looks to invest in Daimler

Daimler and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) are already intertwined in China. Daimler is a 12-percent shareholder in BAIC Motor, the third largest shareholder in the passenger-car division of BAIC. They have a joint manufacturing venture Beijing Benz in which BAIC is the majority partner by one percent, a sales joint venture Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co. in which Daimler is the majority partner by one percent, and Daimer says, "BAIC is our most important partner in China." Beijing Benz is ten years old this year. They'll become even closer if talks between the two concerning BAIC taking "a major stake" in the German conglomerate come to anything. Reuters reports that the two are in talks now, with BAIC Chairman Xu Heyi saying it should be resolved one way or another by the end of this year. If they agree, the China-based, Hong Kong-listed company will join Renault-Nissan and the Kuwait Investment Authority as Daimler's top shareholders. Some China analysts see a potential Daimler investment as a coup for BAIC, similar to BAIC's 2009 purchase of old Saab platform, engine, and transmission technologies, that would give it access to technologies it wouldn't have to develop on its own and hastening the development of its own cars. A deal is also seen as potentially opening up export possibilities for the Chinese company. Other analysts aren't sure that BAIC would get any useful technology, noting that that last deal between the two gave BAIC the outdated E-Class platform, but none of Mercedes' headline tech. If a deal is done, BAIC will join Dongfeng Group and SAIC as Chinese automaker investors in western automotive companies.

On Location at the Portimao circuit in Portugal with Mercedes

Portugal is a beautiful country, full of friendly people, historic cities, stunning coastline and, of course, vineyards. What brought us to Mainland Europe's westernmost country, though, was the high-speed promise of the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao. Mercedes-AMG was kind enough to host the international press launch of its standard-setting C63 and C63 S sedans at the Portuguese racing circuit, and we came away impressed, both with the car and with the track. It's tough work, but somebody's got to do it... Join Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski in Portimao above to learn more about the race track and the country in which it resides, and if you want to see what the circuit looks like from behind the wheel, we suggest you watch the video below. Related Gallery 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S: First Drive View 40 Photos Related Gallery 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG Sport: First Drive View 19 Photos Motorsports Mercedes-Benz Luxury Racing Vehicles Performance Videos Original Video Sedan mercedes-amg portugal mercedes-amg c63 on location portimao autoblog black