Collection Gift Guide: Coupe d'Etat
December 1, 2006
Let cynics and math majors quibble about the 6.3-liter name tag hanging on Mercedes-Benz’s new 6,208 cc V-8-powered, four-door coupe. One jab at the gas pedal of the CLS63 AMG is all it takes to silence any questions about being shortchanged in the engine department. Make that jab from a standing start with the traction control switched off and you will obliterate your view of the road behind as the otherwise grippy 285/30 ZR19 rear tires squeal and squirm in a smoky tribute to what AMG can accomplish when one man building one engine stuffs it with 465 ft lbs of torque.
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AMG has combined the heart-melting good looks of the CLS with the
tire-melting power of a high-revving (7,200 rpm redline), all-aluminum,
four-valve V-8 that generates 507 hp at 6,800 rpm. The engine features a unique
(patented) variable intake manifold with two internal throttle valves that
operate in parallel for perfectly balanced delivery to all cylinders. It is the
first engine to be completely developed in-house by AMG. The high-performance
subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz first gained notoriety in 1971 with the racing
success of its 300SEL sedan powered by a highly modified 280 hp version of the
original Mercedes 6.3-liter (6,298 cc) V-8. AMG would revisit the 6.3-liter
formula 30 years later wih the 444 hp, 6,258 cc V-12 of the S63 and CL63. If the
new engine falls a bit shy of the displacement of its predecessors, it more than
makes up for it in the power department. (Click image to enlarge)
With lavish nappa leather upholstery, AMG sports seats
, a new 6.3-liter V-8 engine, and 19-inch twin-spoke alloy
wheels, the 2007 CLS63 AMG exhibits the perfect blend of
sports-car performance and luxury comfort. (Click images to enlarge) ; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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Don’t get the impression that because the CLS63 can propel its roughly two tons
of mass from zero to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, it is merely AMG’s version of a
muscle car. Even more impressive was how quickly—during our test-drive—we hit
speeds of up to 260 kph (162 mph) on the autobahn near the outskirts of Munich.
The massive power is perfectly complemented by the three-mode adjustable
Airmatic suspension, front brake discs with six-piston calipers, and the AMG
SpeedShift 7-speed G-Tronic automatic transmission with steering wheel–mounted
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AMG sports seats. (Click image to enlarge)
Other factors enhancing our performance were a break in the early-morning
traffic and our car’s 030-code option package, which raises the standard
governed speed limit from 155 mph to 186 mph. This package includes beefier
19-inch wheels, composite compound front rotors, a locking rear differential,
and goodies like a 300 kph speedometer and an Alcantara suede–trimmed steering
wheel and gearshift. AMG points to the United States as the best market for this
option package; thus, the U.S. will receive 2,500 of the 4,500 2007 CLS63 AMGs
to be produced.
Those 4,500 drivers will find themselves behind the wheel of a luxury sedan with a perfect blend of performance, handling, and glorious engine sounds. If you miss out, or need more cargo space, the next best thing would be the identically powered Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, especially the station wagon that will be available only by special order in the United States. Trust us, you will never miss those 50 cubic centimeters of displacement.
Mercedes-Benz
www.mbusa.com
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