OK, perhaps "thunder" is taking a bit of poetic liberty where this spy video is concerned; still, we don't doubt the upcoming four-door W205 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG has quite a soundtrack on offer.

I mean, despite the camera's distance from the car, you can still hear the carnal V8 rumble from its quad tailpipes. Not to mention the chirp of the tyres as the hot sedan navigates the 'Ring at considerable speed.

No more 487 hp/600 Nm 6.3 litre V8, but we should be looking at a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 that develops between 450 and 500 hp. Torque should be monumental, too.

This new V8 (M117 engine code) shares a modular architecture with the 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine found in the '45 AMG' cars (A, CLA and GLA), so it could be two of those joined in a V.

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG sedan spyshots

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG estate spyshots