Jim Resnick

The vast chasm between “want” and “need” is a space littered with high-cost products, be they high-performance automobiles or super-premium ice cream. While the sclerotic effects of 55 percent (or 11 grams) of the daily recommended dosage of saturated fat in one serving of Häagen-Dazs Chubby Hubby is a moderated health risk, so too can be the 503hp (375kW) in the Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabrio after one 4.0-second blast to 60 mph. Also, considering that the very first C-Class AMG model ever offered in the US market 22 years ago belted out a whopping 276hp (206kW) from its 3.6-liter inline-6, power is a relative thing.

That 4.0-liter engine pumps two turbos’ worth of pressure into eight cylinders to net its embarrassment of riches. (Non-S C63 models get by with a mere 469hp, or 350 kW.) Those turbos are nestled in the valley of the engine’s V, as on BMW’s current crop of turbocharged V8s and Audi’s V-type engines. This shortens the plumbing, reduces the possibility of lag, and also helps get the turbos hotter (which helps produce boost quicker).