Photos and information on the 2012 C63 AMG have leaked out ahead of the official debut at the Geneva Show in March.

Car and Driver, who first came out with this story, explained: "Power from the 6.2-liter V-8 is unchanged. In standard spec, it puts out 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque; as before, the Development Package adds 30 hp (481 total) and raises the speed limiter from 155 to 174 mph. The new transmission, first seen in the SL63 and now spreading throughout the lineup, allows the driver to choose from four different driving modes and includes AMG's Race Start launch-control function. So there's a chance we'll see a slight drop in the car's 0-to-60-mph time, which was 3.9 seconds when we tested a 2010 Development Pack car."

"The C63 seen here happens to be one of the Development Package models, which is visually differentiated by its carbon-fiber trunklid spoiler and two-piece front brake rotors with red calipers all around. Like the plain-Jane C-classes, the C63's headlights are reshaped and the taillights get the LED treatment. In addition, the AMG car's front fascia is new - rectangular daytime running lights, a wider center opening, a reduction in vertical gill count to one per side - and includes a grille with one fewer horizontal bar (for a total of one). The rear fascia also has been reworked, with the black diffuser portion now extending a little more up the bumper."

"The 2012 C63 AMG will go on sale this fall alongside the rest of the 2012 C-class lineup, and makes its debut at March's Geneva auto show. Pricing hasn't yet been announced, but we don't expect it to stray too far from the current base price of $61,175."

More information: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/11q1/2012_mercedes-benz_c63_amg-official_photos_and_info