Of course, most don’t buy AMG-tuned products to drive leisurely.
Customizable firepower
A control console next to the shifter allows drivers to engage their current desired balance of performance and relaxation. By toggling engine, gearshift, steering and suspension modes with an array of dials, the CLS63 AMG can be switched instantly between ‘grey-poupon seeking luxo-cruiser’ and ‘blast the neighbours out of bed to watch your burnout’.
Ones pre-selected system parameters can be assigned to the ‘AMG’ button, which instantly calls up the driver’s individualized performance settings. Program the AMG button to turn everything to full blast, and you might think it should read ‘OMG’ instead.
Loud and fast
Programmed as such, the CLS63 AMG tosses its calm side out the window and turns instantly to a roadgoing missile with a ravenous appetite for pavement. There’s no turbo lag, delay or hesitation. Plant your foot and it just goes—right now—and in some kind of a seriously twisted hurry. Winding or straight, the CLS63 AMG devours tarmac with an endless wave of seemingly God-given thrust.
Exhaust belches, burps and gurgles as drivers summon upshifts from the paddle shifters, too. Adding two turbochargers to the mix hasn’t robbed this engine of a tremendously kickass exhaust note. It’s just as loud and snorty at full throttle as the former naturally-aspirated piece.
Two pleasant surprises
So, the CLS63 AMG looks great, sounds even better and is fast as all German-engineered stink. But you know it’s fast by just looking at it. The head-turning crackle when the engine fires up is a pretty good indication, too.
Surprises? Number one was the steering. It doesn’t exhibit the heavy-ish, vague feel erring on the side of lazy your correspondent was expecting. Instead, it’s light, crisp and eager-- almost exaggeratedly so, given the CLS’s size. A widened track, super-sticky tires and AMG-specific camber settings mean the CLS63 has the dynamics to back its highly-caffeinated steering system up. It might be big and heavy, but this machine has no issue darting around like it’s plenty smaller.
Customizable firepower
A control console next to the shifter allows drivers to engage their current desired balance of performance and relaxation. By toggling engine, gearshift, steering and suspension modes with an array of dials, the CLS63 AMG can be switched instantly between ‘grey-poupon seeking luxo-cruiser’ and ‘blast the neighbours out of bed to watch your burnout’.
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| A control console next to the shifter allows drivers to engage their current desired balance of performance and relaxation. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |
Ones pre-selected system parameters can be assigned to the ‘AMG’ button, which instantly calls up the driver’s individualized performance settings. Program the AMG button to turn everything to full blast, and you might think it should read ‘OMG’ instead.
Loud and fast
Programmed as such, the CLS63 AMG tosses its calm side out the window and turns instantly to a roadgoing missile with a ravenous appetite for pavement. There’s no turbo lag, delay or hesitation. Plant your foot and it just goes—right now—and in some kind of a seriously twisted hurry. Winding or straight, the CLS63 AMG devours tarmac with an endless wave of seemingly God-given thrust.
Exhaust belches, burps and gurgles as drivers summon upshifts from the paddle shifters, too. Adding two turbochargers to the mix hasn’t robbed this engine of a tremendously kickass exhaust note. It’s just as loud and snorty at full throttle as the former naturally-aspirated piece.
Two pleasant surprises
So, the CLS63 AMG looks great, sounds even better and is fast as all German-engineered stink. But you know it’s fast by just looking at it. The head-turning crackle when the engine fires up is a pretty good indication, too.
Surprises? Number one was the steering. It doesn’t exhibit the heavy-ish, vague feel erring on the side of lazy your correspondent was expecting. Instead, it’s light, crisp and eager-- almost exaggeratedly so, given the CLS’s size. A widened track, super-sticky tires and AMG-specific camber settings mean the CLS63 has the dynamics to back its highly-caffeinated steering system up. It might be big and heavy, but this machine has no issue darting around like it’s plenty smaller.
 |
| The CLS63 AMG looks great, sounds even better and is fast as all German-engineered stink. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com) |