In the latest episode of Motor Trend's Ignition video series, Carlos Lago takes the phenomenal 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series for a round of tests before inviting racing driver Randy Pobst to do a couple of hot laps of the Laguna Seca race track. The most powerful C-Class Mercedes has ever built features an naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V8 built by AMG and rated at 517 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, with power sent to the wheels via a 7-speed MCT gearbox.

Production of the hard-core C-Class was limited to 1000 models, and all are now accounted for, having arrived in dealerships at the beginning of the year. The C63 is the fourth model to wear the vaunted Black Series label following track-tuned versions of the SL, SLK and CLK. Next down the pipeline will be the SLS.