  New radio data is presented for the rich cluster Abell 2163. The cluster
radio emission is characterized by the presence of a radio halo, which is one
of the most powerful and extended halos known so far. In the NE peripheral
cluster region, we also detect diffuse elongated emission, which we classify as
a cluster relic. The cluster A2163 is very hot and luminous in X-ray. Its
central region is probably in a highly non relaxed state, suggesting that this
cluster is likely to be a recent merger. The existence of a radio halo in this
cluster confirms that halos are associated with hot massive clusters, and
confirms the connection between radio halos and cluster merger processes. The
comparison between the radio emission of the halo and the cluster X-ray
emission shows a close structural similarity. A power law correlation is found
between the radio and X-ray brightness, with index = 0.64. We also report the
upper limit to the hard X-ray emission, obtained from a BeppoSAX observation.
We discuss the implications of our results.
