Every now and then I drive a car that blows me away and on this occasion it was the Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG.

Sitting next a Merc A150, we couldn’t have had two vehicles in the Benz range that were so different: one you could purchase for under $30,000 and then other, counting the added specs, over $400,000.

The new CL range comes with upgraded innovations such as Active Body Control (ABC), proximity cruise control and more sophisticated braking systems which detect an imminent accident. This is achieved with the use of its sophisticated radar system. Infra red headlamps to assist night driving are optional.

A car like the CL 63 AMG is all about raw power and buyers get that in substantial amounts. Under the bonnet is a 6.3L V8 developing 385kW of power. It’s a silky smooth, highly responsive unit that will propel the car to 100km/h in something like 4.6 seconds and quickly reach the 250km/h or so permitted by the maximum speed governor.

AMG engines are built at the AMG plant at Affalterbach near Stuttgart. Each engine is built stage-by-stage by one man who wheels the block from station to station, adding components as he goes. When the engine is completed and ready to ship to a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, the engine builder signs a metal plaque on the unit to confirm his highly skilled handiwork.

The transmission is sophisticated and complex and perhaps that’s why Mercedes-Benz chose such a descriptive name for it: “AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC” (the capitals are Mercedes’). It uses a steering column-mounted lever that you tap to select P, R, N, and D. The seven-speed box can be manually operated using F1-style paddles behind the steering wheel, though with 630Nm of torque, I found it best to leave well alone and let this electronic marvel do its job. I guess there are situations where manual shifting would be handy (think very twisty and steep mountain passes) but for most applications, fully automatic mode is just fine.
 
The CL’s interior is an opulent combination of fine leathers and woods with no real surprises for people familiar with Mercedes-Benz products. Naturally, there’s much emphasis on a very high level of luxury, but most controls are easy to use and reach. The COMMAND system is getting easier to use, but even more simplifying navigation and sound system controls would be a plus. At least the car’s lengthy list of safety systems need no driver input and the CL has to be one of the safest cars ever built.

Mercedes-AMG products are expensive, there’s no denying that, but for people who want the best in safe, high-performance road-going automobiles, they are probably worth every penny. This is one super car I’d be happy to drive across the continent.

auto facts
Price: $383,000
Engine: 6.2L eight-cylinder
Power: 385kW, 630Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.9/L
Good: Engine and transmission a dream
Not so good: That price

by ANDREW KOCH