Base price: $137,775
As Tested: $149,465
518-horsepower
6.3-liter naturally aspirated
V6 engine
11 city/ 18 hwy
More info:
www.mbusa.com
|
|
|
|
Mercedes' CL63 AMG is simply a wolf in wolf's clothing. From any angle, the aggressively wedge-shaped coupe looks every bit the intimidating 518-horsepower luxury cruise missile. A new addition to the carmaker's CL line, our flint grey CL63 tester was anything but subtle, with the salad-plate-sized Mercedes logo, snarling front apron and sharks-gill front air vents. With its 6.3 AMG badging, ground-hugging side skirts, 20-inch five-spoke wheels and quad chrome exhaust pipes, this car could make even the most satisfied M3 driver feel a little sheepish. Then again, the BMW fan could have two M3s for the price of this Benz.
|
|
|
|
|
We question the wisdom of equipping this Mercedes with massaging driver and passenger seats. After all, a relaxing back rub was not our top priority in a sports car that -- on our test vehicle -- had the standard electronic speed delimitation of 155 miles per hour optionally delimited to 186 miles per hour. It's kind of like putting a La-Z-Boy in an F-14, but such creature comforts abound in the CL63. Tiny, basically vestigial back seats do exist, but the CL63 isn't truly a four-person ride. The two lucky souls inside, however, are swathed in an alcantara-lined roof, heated and ventilated sport seats, ubiquitous premium leather and burl walnut trim and an 11-speaker, 600-watt surround sound system perhaps best kept off to listen to the gorgeous engine note. The list of kingly amenities goes on long enough to put a grin on the most stoic German's face.
|
|
|
|
|
We've already mentioned some key figures, like 518 and 186. How about 0-60 in 4.5 seconds? The completely new race-derived, naturally aspirated V8 engine in the CL63 (the CL65 has an outrageous 604-horsepower V12) melts rubber with 465 lb-ft of torque that is seemingly available no matter what speed. High performance AMG brakes have stopping power like a head-on with a freight train, and sport driving is facilitated with a 7-speed auto/manual transmission with steering wheel paddles. With this kind of power at our right foot and fingertips, and rear-wheel-drive of course, we literally found it hard not to spin the tires from a dead stop. In city driving, we never came close to hammering fully down -- and that didn't stop the CL63 AMG from being one of the most exhilarating rides of our life. Oxygen, please.
-- by Sam Jemielity
|
|
|
