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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Review (video)

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Review
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour
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Michel Deslauriers
What more could you want?
There are plenty of high-dollar thrill machines out there you could buy. Driveway jewelry such as an Audi R8 5.2, an Aston Martin Rapide or a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG are very effective accessories to help you show off in front of your neighbours.

On the other hand, need you really spend that much to obtain exhilarating performance, gorgeous sheet metal and that all-important aura of prestige? No, you need not.

You see, the AMG version of Mercedes' CLS-Class sedan -- or four-door coupe, whatever you want to call it -- provides everything you need for feeling big and powerful as well as ticking off the guy living across the street.

Window-shattering engine sounds
The most alluring aspect of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is what's under the hood. The new 5.5L V8, force-fed by two turbochargers, develops 518 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. If that's not enough, the optional AMG Performance Package bumps output to 550 hp and 590 lb-ft.

Equipped with a launch control feature, the 518-hp CLS 63 AMG rips to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds while providing an aural feast you'll fantasize about in your wildest dreams for years to come. If you haven't sampled any of AMG's powertrains recently, let us sum it up for you: they're loud, they're extroverted and they'll make you feel like you've got bigger biceps than a bodybuilder.

And before you dismiss the CLS 63 as a gas-swilling, environmentally unfriendly beast, you'd only be partially right; the car also features stop-start technology that works more effectively than the system in the Porsche Panamera. It functions as long as you keep the drive system in 'E' mode.

As a result, we're averaging 14 L/100 km over the course of the test. It might not deserve popping a bottle of champagne over, but it's not too bad for a 518-hp luxury missile.
 
The rear-wheel-drive CLS 63 AMG can also handle itself despite its weight and size. The AMG RIDE CONTROL pneumatic suspension adjusts itself to your driving, firming up when you're putting the hammer down.

Long hood, short deck
The first pictures I saw of the second-generation CLS didn't impress me too much. The first-gen car was unique, easily distinguishing itself from the rest of Mercedes-Benz's product lineup. The new CLS borrows many styling cues and the brand's corporate grille with the massive tri-star logo, so that uniqueness is diminished somewhat.

The more I look at the car, however, the more I like it. There are numerous details here that catch your attention, such as the LED driving lights, the hood creases and the character line that flows from the headlight clusters to right below the rear door handles.

In addition, the long hood and short deck shape mixed with the very low roofline (watch your heads, everyone) gives the CLS a muscular, ready-to-pounce shape. And those LED taillights look gorgeous at night.

Impeccable cabin furnishings
No doubt, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG's cockpit is a down-to-business environment. Like all new models in the German brand's lineup, the CLS gets an aggressively styled wheel that feels like you're manipulating a precision-crafted weapon, while the optional carbon fibre trim looks just right.

On the other hand, Mercedes' COMAND multimedia system could use some improvement. Navigating through the on-screen menus isn't as easy as BMW's iDrive system, while the graphics could benefit from a more modern look to go with the flashy cabin atmosphere.

Headroom isn't too generous for any occupant, but otherwise, space is adequate and seat comfort is top-notch. In the CLS 63, you also get standard three-zone climate control and optional multicontour and cooled front seats as well as heated rear seats. The LOGIC7 surround sound system is unsurprisingly phenomenal.
 
Could it be called affordable?
At $109,900 before options and taxes, the CLS 63 AMG could also be considered a bargain. It feels more expensive than it is, especially when you compare it to similar-priced rivals such as the Porsche Panamera GTS and the BMW 650i Coupé.

And that AMG engine is hard to ignore. It sounds a wee bit less aggressive than the normally aspirated 6.2L unit that still equips the C 63 AMG and SLS AMG, but it's still one mean piece of machinery and one that burns less gas.

I honestly don't know why someone would pay more for a high-end performance luxury sedan. A higher level of exclusivity could be an argument, but otherwise, the CLS 63 AMG delivers all the performance, luxury and flash you need to be respected in your upper-crust 'burbs.

 
 
2012 Mercedes CLS-Class CLS 63 AMG
mercedes cls-class 2012
2012 Mercedes CLS-Class CLS 63 AMG
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Michel Deslauriers
Michel Deslauriers
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