There’s no arguing that, at least currently, automotive design is all over the map. And one of the swoopiest designs to ever leave the drawing board and end up in sheetmetal is as polarizing as it is appealing. Herewith, we bring you the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG.

What is it?
It’s Mercerdes-Benz’s stab at trying to convince the consumer that a four-door sedan is in reality a coupe. But it has been thoroughly massaged by Mercedes’ in-house tuner, AMG, to supply the ultimate in go-fast goodstuffs. Sharing lots of platform underpinnings from its E-Class sister-ship, it looks like it could also have been the better-looking, separated-at-birth sibling of the Chrysler 300C.

What’s it up against?
Among others, slot the CLS63 AMG up against such stalwarts as Audi’s S8, BMW’s M5, Jaguar’s XJR, Maserati’s Quattroporte, and the similarly-engined Mercedes S63 AMG and E63 AMG. Although not in the range of $300,000 exotics, it still lives in a pretty exclusive neighborhood.

Any breakthroughs?
The CLS63 AMG, as are most of the offerings from Mercedes’ go-fast division, AMG, is loaded with all the latest technologies, including AMG Speedshift Plus seven-speed automatic transmission (with sport, comfort and manual shift modes), as well as a track-calibrated Airmatic suspension system, that firms up or softens the ride according to the needs at hand. And a lot more.

How does it look?
You either love it or hate it. Polarizing from the get-go, it’s pretty much like nothing before it, but even now there’s an imitator (Volkswagen CC, which we recently tested). Fluid-like in its silhouette, it sweeps up from the front, runs up the A-pillar and curves down nicely in the rear to a sculptured trunk, whose outside dimensions belie what can actually be stuffed inside.

To our eyes, though, it is one sinister, gangster-looking sled.

Nice details are all over the CLS 63. From the Star embedded in the grille to the 6.3-liter badges on the fenders, you are clearly aware that this AMG creation most definitely has sporting pretensions. Cut lines running the length of the CLS that suggest an echo of the beltline of the car and mildly enhancing ground effects that culminate with an AMG rear spoiler, help to set it apart from other cars in its class. We’re still a little divided over the raised eyebrow arches that come to mind when looking at the front headlight lens assemblie, however.

And inside?
Stylishly cool, in an avant-garde sort of way. Young fashionistas will appreciate the finer touches inside, including the laurel wood veneer paneling across the dash, the center stack and the deep-pile carpeting. Supportive seats with adjustable bolsters and lumbar supports guarantee comfort for the back but the real piece de resistance’ is the cool seats that keep things chilly between you and the seating surface. There is nothing better in Florida than to have cold air blowing up one’s backside during a spirited stint behind the AMG performance-styled steering wheel with F1-inspired paddle shifters. You’ll appreciate the cool in other areas…of the country, too. But sadly, we missed the total high-zootness that a back-massaging front seat would offer!

A considerable portion of the beauty of the CLS comes from its outside appearance. This might require a trade-off for some in terms of interior comfort. The low-sloping roofline of the CLS requires care while entering and exiting the rear seat. Ditto for the legroom, although the front seatbacks have been scalloped out for added knee room and the like.

The Harmon/Kardon Logic7 surround sound system that we have grown to appreciate in other M-Bs shows up once again in the CLS63. If you can’t find something to listen to between its SD memory card slot, and the provisions for AM/FM/WB/SAT/MP3/CD/ iPod and a DVD audio/video system, you could always turn it off and listen to the sweet growl of the 6.3 liters.

But does it go?
Like an Alaska Governor eager to tear it up on a New York City shopping spree! The C63, SL63, S63, and others in the M-B stable share the hand-built AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine that resides under the bonnet of the CLS63 AMG. Built from start-to-finish by one AMG engine craftsman, it is a piece of art that is as good to look at as it is to put your foot into.

Rated at 507-horsepower, and 465 lb-ft. of torque, it’s good for 0-60 in less than four and a half seconds (4.3, to be precise). The AMG Speedshift Plus 7-speed gearbox with rev-matching, kept the power going to the limited-slip differential, and by function, to the optional 19-inch five-spokers that our car was equipped with. By pushing a button next to the shift lever, the Speedshift allowed for several degrees of function ranging from Comfort (C), Sport (S), and Manual (M) modes. In comfort and sport mode the gearbox changes automatically, just at different shift points. Additionally, the gear change function can be overridden at any time by moving the gear selector into the “manu-matic” mode, or by pressing the paddle shift levers on the steering wheel. Conversely, the manual mode is just that: You must make the effort to shift, again by lever or paddle shifts, but there are no automatic upshifts as seen on other cars with sporting pretensions.

AMG was also called upon to tune the handling of the rather, ahem, zaftig (4210-lb) four-seater with the use of their optional track-calibrated Airmatic suspension kit. (Sounds like one of those Craftmatic adjustable beds that are advertised on an afternoon conservative radio show.) Capable of three sport-comfort settings, it does double duty, keeping the car level after its load has been achieved with cargo in place, as well as stiffening the ride to a performance level for flat cornering that allows you to whip wheel without disturbing the occupants too severely.

As agile as the CLS63 is, it is still substantial enough to let you know you are not banging a smaller C63 through the turns. Although still pretty level, it is a big car, and is not shy about letting you know it. Steering feel is excellent, though, and not particularly over or under-assisted. Same for the acceleration. It still manages to leave an impression in your backside.

The AMG compound braking system using a two-piece setup of cast iron and aluminum rotors complete the system. Ventilated and cross-drilled for quick heat dissipation they rely on the AMG six-pot clampers in front and four-pot calipers in the rear, along with beefy Pirelli P-Zeros at all four corners to quickly bring things back under control.
They do work and at times seem almost “grabby” in their abilities. I would rather have that, than the alternative, though. This “grabiness” might come in handy because unlike the standard CLS63, which is limited to 155 mph, our test sled came equipped with the AMG Performance Package, which delimited the engine to its full potential of 186 mph.

Woo-hoo!

Why you would buy it:
You are a huge fan of speed and grace and you think CLS63 AMG offers a perfect mix of Teutonic elegance and bad-assedness under the same shapely roof.

Why you wouldn’t:
You like your three-box sedans (or coupes) to be just that: Three boxed!

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG base price, $94,550. As tested, $112,015.
Parktronic, $1,140; Premium package, $3,200; AMG Performance package, $9,650; Destination, $875; Gas Guzzler Tax, $2,600.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

    Print This Post