Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG 2011 Review

This thing has ridiculous grunt -- to the point where you'll need several driver's licences or an empty racetrack to find its performance limits. It has a top speed of 300km/h and even when driven at a third of this speed it feels fast, while at the other end of the spectrum giant six-pot callipers up front and four-piston callipers at the rear sink their teeth into dinner-plate sized 360mm stoppers at all four corners. Yep, decelerative reserves are massive too.

Vital statistics for the CLS 63 AMG are impressive. The vehicle's 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 imposes 386kW/700Nm on the rear axle via a seven-speed Speedshift MCT gearbox. Peel away the auto jargon and you get a clutch-equipped auto gearbox that shifts through gears ridiculously quickly, benefitting acceleration and economy.

Jump on the throttle from standstill and the car accelerates with the sort of verve you'd expect of a lightweight exotic sports car. Impressive when you consider this is a full-size 1870kg four-door. After a few chirps of the rear wheels as the electronic traction aids attempt to avert a hoon moment, you feel your abdomen being gently squeezed into the soft nappa leather AMG sports seats at about 30km/h, and by 50km/h the engine's delivering full torque.

Though this car won't win any environmental awards, it is a lot more efficient than its predecessor with a claimed combined fuel consumption of 10L/100km, which is a good 4.5 litres per 100km better. Mind you with an asking price of $263,500, fuel usage is unlikely to be a deal breaker for potential buyers.

Of more importance to AMG fans will be the 0-100km/h sprint, which takes just 4.4 seconds -- quicker than its predecessor, but only by 0.1 seconds.

Of course, if want a true power mongering automobile you can increase power outputs to 410kW/800Nm if you opt for the AMG Performance package – a snip at $17,900. Considering the new model is priced strategically at $18,000 less than its predecessor, why wouldn't you?

The AMG Performance pack taps into extra reserves of power via a few tweaks to the powertrain, including a lift in turbo boost pressure from 1.0 to 1.3 bar. It also adds slabs of carbon-fibre under the bonnet and on the boot lid, red brake callipers and an AMG steering wheel with sweat-absorbing Alcantara inserts.

Active multi-contour seats for driver and front passenger are thrown into the mix. They use air bladders to reduce driver and passenger's movements in the seats, responding remarkably quickly to changes in the car's direction.

Speaking of which, this German colossus absolutely eats up corners, a feat that shouldn't be possible given the weight and the considerable 4996mm length. Clever adaptive suspension gizmos ensure a very flat cornering attitude, giving the big 19-inch tyres the best possible shot at maintaining traction. The new electromechanical steering system better engages the driver in the moment.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is bordering on exotic - how many modern day cars have full LED headlights comprising of 142 individual diodes? Yet despite its devastating tyre-shredding power, this car is still quintessentially a Benz – it's happy trundling along at 60km/h (it's got adjustable suspension settings so you can opt for buttery smooth or racetrack firm) and it comes with more techno gadgets than a NASA garage sale, yet none of them ever feel overly complex to use.

Take the Lane Keeping Assist system. I didn't even realise it was switched on until the steering wheel starting rumbling at me when the car edged over a broken line on the side of the road. It will even brake the wheels to drag the car back into its lane in dire situations, but we only witnessed it working when the driver mistakenly crossed double white lines.

There's also an Active Blind Spot Assist system which uses short-range radar sensors to perceive potential vehicle collisions when changing lanes, and if the visual and audio warnings are ignored the car will automatically apply the brakes. Factor in the anti-fatigue Attention Assist program, Pre-Safe collision avoidance technology, radar-based cruise control, a self-parking Park Assist program, automatic high beam lights, 11 airbags and night vision system, and you're looking at the black-ops version of the modern motor car.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG is an attractive motor vehicle, but it's not until it's in operation that the magic truly begins. Luxurious in every sense, sporty but refined, this is a brilliant car.

What makes the big Benz exceptional is its ability to engage the driver in almost every situation, delivering a satisfying drive both at 60km/h and, well, a lot faster than that. If there is such a thing as too much power, you can bank on AMG finding a way to tame it; this is controlled aggression at its best.

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