If ever there was a brash, yet sophisticated sedan capable of turning heads while "taking no prisoners" on the road, this is it. The CLS63 AMG is the higher-performance version of a high-performance luxury sedan that cuts new, daring lines in the oft-staid world of four-door transportation. The brazen coupe-like styling of the CLS63 AMG must surely shake the "other" German supercar builder to its very unibody core. In my view, Mercedes-Benz has aced BMW design chief, Chris Bangle, at his own game of dramatic design.
CLS63 AMG joins the 500+ horsepower club
While I find the exterior lines of the CLS exotic and lustful, others may decry the car's styling statement as garish and tawdry. Surely a point less contentious, and one on which performance-minded enthusiasts are likely to find consensus, is the over-whelming capability of the naturally-aspirated hand-built 6.2-litre V8 rumbling 'neath the long hood.
The highly coveted AMG-built DOHC 32-valve monster produces 507 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm and 465 pound-feet of torque @ 5,200 rpm prior to climaxing at a sizzling 7,200-rpm redline. Naturally, premium fuel is required to achieve such staggering results.
The formidable force is fed to the car's 285/30R19 rear wheels through a new seven-speed automatic transmission featuring AMG Speedshift enhancements and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. This sophisticated autobox harmoniously plays dual roles: that of an unobtrusive slushbox and that of a race-inspired high-performance gearbox.
In its "comfort" mode the transmission behaves like one would expect in a premium-level luxury car. Switch to "sport" mode, and the evil twin appears, ready to hold gears longer, switch more rapidly and increase the engine's rpm when downshifting.
Ambidextrous ride and handling
The CLS63 AMG rides upon Mercedes-Benz's Airmatic air suspension setup that offers three ride/handling settings in addition to its own Adaptive Damping System, which adjusts suspension calibration based on driving demands.
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| The CLS63 AMG is the higher-performance version of a high-performance luxury sedan. |
CLS63 AMG joins the 500+ horsepower club
While I find the exterior lines of the CLS exotic and lustful, others may decry the car's styling statement as garish and tawdry. Surely a point less contentious, and one on which performance-minded enthusiasts are likely to find consensus, is the over-whelming capability of the naturally-aspirated hand-built 6.2-litre V8 rumbling 'neath the long hood.
The highly coveted AMG-built DOHC 32-valve monster produces 507 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm and 465 pound-feet of torque @ 5,200 rpm prior to climaxing at a sizzling 7,200-rpm redline. Naturally, premium fuel is required to achieve such staggering results.
The formidable force is fed to the car's 285/30R19 rear wheels through a new seven-speed automatic transmission featuring AMG Speedshift enhancements and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. This sophisticated autobox harmoniously plays dual roles: that of an unobtrusive slushbox and that of a race-inspired high-performance gearbox.
In its "comfort" mode the transmission behaves like one would expect in a premium-level luxury car. Switch to "sport" mode, and the evil twin appears, ready to hold gears longer, switch more rapidly and increase the engine's rpm when downshifting.
Ambidextrous ride and handling
The CLS63 AMG rides upon Mercedes-Benz's Airmatic air suspension setup that offers three ride/handling settings in addition to its own Adaptive Damping System, which adjusts suspension calibration based on driving demands.
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| The engine power is fed to the car's rear wheels through a new seven-speed automatic transmission. |