The name AMG is derived from the company's original founder's initials: Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, as well as the name of the German town where the company was born - Großaspach. Now operating out of Affalterbach, near Stuttgart, the high performance division of Mercedes-Benz offers high performance variants of countless Mercedes-Benz models - from coupes and saloons to estates, roadsters and even SUVs.
AMG models are more than just tuned or souped up versions of regular Mercedes models but feature bespoke engines and even an AMG-exclusive gearbox in the form of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT transmission as used by the CLS 63 AMG model test driven here.
Exterior
To differentiate the AMG from regular CLS models, the 63 gets an AMG aero kit with wider front fenders with the 'V8 BITURBO' logo and an aggressive front bumper, a diffuser insert on the rear bumper, a lip spoiler on the boot lid (in carbon fibre for cars fitted with the Performance Pack), quad chrome exhaust tips, 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke alloy wheels hiding massive brakes and a lowered stance.
The 19-inch AMG alloy wheels hiding its massive brakes
AMG models are more than just tuned or souped up versions of regular Mercedes models but feature bespoke engines and even an AMG-exclusive gearbox in the form of the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT transmission as used by the CLS 63 AMG model test driven here.
Exterior
To differentiate the AMG from regular CLS models, the 63 gets an AMG aero kit with wider front fenders with the 'V8 BITURBO' logo and an aggressive front bumper, a diffuser insert on the rear bumper, a lip spoiler on the boot lid (in carbon fibre for cars fitted with the Performance Pack), quad chrome exhaust tips, 19-inch AMG twin five-spoke alloy wheels hiding massive brakes and a lowered stance.
The 19-inch AMG alloy wheels hiding its massive brakes  |
Interior
AMG go-faster bits inside include superbly supportive and comfortable AMG sports seats in nappa leather, a new three-spoke AMG Performance steering wheel with aluminium shift paddles and flattened top and bottom sections, the AMG DRIVE UNIT with compact E-SELECT selector lever, IWC clock on the dashboard and bespoke instrument with a 320km/h speedometer and a rev counter with 'V8 Biturbo' written at the bottom.
One of the many go-faster bits in the AMG's interior  |
The Drive
The CLS 63's AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT gearbox is quite unlike any other automatic or (whichever way you look at it) semi-automatic transmission. The transmission is basically Mercedes' familiar 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox but without a power sapping torque converter. Instead it uses a compact wet start up clutch for moving off from standstill.
As it doesn't have a torque converter, most will point out that it isn't an automatic gearbox per se. To further confuse things, the MCT name stands for Multi-Clutch Technology. At this point some might think that it is basically a dual clutch box in the mould of Volkswagen's DSG and BMW's DCT but this is far from the truth - Multi-Clutch in this instance refers to an auto transmission's multiple clutches and bands for each gear.
At this point, I can continue to rant on and on about this breakthrough transmission technology that first appeared in the outgoing SL 63 AMG a few years back but to spare you the agony, I'll just tell you that MCT is just fantastically good.
The first time trying out MCT reminded me of the first time I ever sampled DSG many years ago - just like DSG made other automatics feel slow and unresponsive back then, MCT seems to make twin clutch transmissions feel the same as well. The gearbox features four drive modes which can be selected via a knob within the AMG DRIVE UNIT on the centre console.
In default mode, the transmission is set to 'C', which is basically efficiency mode. In 'C', the CLS 63 AMG's auto stop/start system is active while outright shift speed is traded in for a degree of comfort and smoothness. Turn the knob to 'Sport+' and the gear changes get to the point of nearly instantaneous - it is that fast.
The CLS 63's AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT gearbox is quite unlike any other automatic or (whichever way you look at it) semi-automatic transmission. The transmission is basically Mercedes' familiar 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox but without a power sapping torque converter. Instead it uses a compact wet start up clutch for moving off from standstill.
As it doesn't have a torque converter, most will point out that it isn't an automatic gearbox per se. To further confuse things, the MCT name stands for Multi-Clutch Technology. At this point some might think that it is basically a dual clutch box in the mould of Volkswagen's DSG and BMW's DCT but this is far from the truth - Multi-Clutch in this instance refers to an auto transmission's multiple clutches and bands for each gear.
At this point, I can continue to rant on and on about this breakthrough transmission technology that first appeared in the outgoing SL 63 AMG a few years back but to spare you the agony, I'll just tell you that MCT is just fantastically good.
The first time trying out MCT reminded me of the first time I ever sampled DSG many years ago - just like DSG made other automatics feel slow and unresponsive back then, MCT seems to make twin clutch transmissions feel the same as well. The gearbox features four drive modes which can be selected via a knob within the AMG DRIVE UNIT on the centre console.
In default mode, the transmission is set to 'C', which is basically efficiency mode. In 'C', the CLS 63 AMG's auto stop/start system is active while outright shift speed is traded in for a degree of comfort and smoothness. Turn the knob to 'Sport+' and the gear changes get to the point of nearly instantaneous - it is that fast.
According to its maker, In "S", "S+" and "M" modes, the engine management system partially suppresses the cylinders: interrupting ignition and injection under full load lead to even faster gearshifts than before. The exhaust also makes a very loud bark as the right hand side paddle shift is pulled for an upshift - it just sounds angry and mean. Other than the four gearbox modes, the transmission also offers a 'RS' mode or RACESTART, which can only be activated via a special sequence.
The gearbox plays a key role in making the CLS 63 one of the most accelerative four-door models out there. The heart of an AMG is obviously its monstrous V8 engine - the CLS 63's 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 might be smaller than the one in the C 63 but it makes more power and more crucially, significantly more torque. In standard form, the biturbo V8 makes 525bhp and 700Nm but opt for the AMG Performance Package and output numbers well to 557bhp and a tree felling 800Nm.
The main source of the tarmac buring magic behind the CLS 63 AMG
The gearbox plays a key role in making the CLS 63 one of the most accelerative four-door models out there. The heart of an AMG is obviously its monstrous V8 engine - the CLS 63's 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 might be smaller than the one in the C 63 but it makes more power and more crucially, significantly more torque. In standard form, the biturbo V8 makes 525bhp and 700Nm but opt for the AMG Performance Package and output numbers well to 557bhp and a tree felling 800Nm.
The main source of the tarmac buring magic behind the CLS 63 AMG  |
Performance numbers are astonishing for a 1,870kg four-door model - 0-100km/h takes just 4.3 seconds with top speed limited to 250km/h. This makes it quicker off the line than the BMW M5. If derestricted, the CLS 63 will reach speeds in excess of 300km/h.
Purists will say that a turbocharged engine will never sound as pure as a naturally aspirated one and to a certain extent, AMG's V8s are the same as well. The C 63's naturally aspirated V8 somehow sounds better than the turbo motor in the CLS - but that's not to say that the latter sounds bad, it still has that characteristic AMG V8 bellow, albeit a less voluminous one.
Fitted with AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with an electronically controlled damping system and new front axle with wider track, newly developed electromechanical AMG sports steering system, the CLS is made to be more adept in tackling the twisty stuff. It feels like a superbly balanced car while ride is never too harsh like in a BMW M model.
Purists will say that a turbocharged engine will never sound as pure as a naturally aspirated one and to a certain extent, AMG's V8s are the same as well. The C 63's naturally aspirated V8 somehow sounds better than the turbo motor in the CLS - but that's not to say that the latter sounds bad, it still has that characteristic AMG V8 bellow, albeit a less voluminous one.
Fitted with AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with an electronically controlled damping system and new front axle with wider track, newly developed electromechanical AMG sports steering system, the CLS is made to be more adept in tackling the twisty stuff. It feels like a superbly balanced car while ride is never too harsh like in a BMW M model.
Conclusion
The CLS 63 AMG is not only one of the best-looking performance saloons out there but thanks to its epic powertrain, one of the fastest and most exhilarating as well.
The CLS 63 AMG is not only one of the best-looking performance saloons out there but thanks to its epic powertrain, one of the fastest and most exhilarating as well.
