More power for Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 29th Jul 2013
The Australian arm of the German luxury car-maker has reshuffled the CLS AMG line-up by introducing the more powerful ‘S’ variant which will replace the current CLS63 as the only available variant, albeit in both Coupe and Shooting Brake body styles.
On sale now ahead of its arrival in October, the Coupe will start from $262,645 plus on-road costs while the Shooting Brake kicks off at $265,145.
In ‘S’ guise, the updated German super-sports machine produces a massive 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque from its 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 petrol engine, well up on the 386kW/700Nm found in the model it replaces.
This also puts it ahead of one of its key rivals, the recently launched – and more expensive, at $299,500 – BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which offers 412kW and 680Nm from its 4.4-litre V8 engine and can race from zero to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.
The mighty new CLS AMG can complete the run to 100km/h one-tenth quicker, while the Shooting Brake reaches the benchmark in an equivalent 4.2s.
An even quicker (3.6s) all-wheel-drive version is available overseas, but has not been engineered for right-hand-drive markets and will not be available here.
Other competitors include Porsche’s 4.8-litre V8 Panamera S, which retails from $287,100 in Australia, while Maserati’s soon-to-be-replaced Quattroporte kicks off from $250,000 and tops out at just under $300,000.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has priced the new CLS63 AMG above the mechanically similar E63 AMG S that went on sale last month for $249,900 plus on-road costs.
Top speed for the CLS63 AMG is 250km/h, although an optional driver’s package boosts this to 300km/h.
Combined-cycle fuel economy is rated at 10.0 litres per 100km for the Coupe and 10.3L/100km for the Shooting Brake, only slightly thirstier than the M6 Gran Coupe’s official figure of 9.9L/100km.
Mercedes has packed the CLS63 with AMG-designed style and comfort features including 19-inch wheels, sports seats, sports exhaust and the requisite AMG body styling.
The swoopy saloon has a host of hi-tech safety equipment including a blind-spot warning system, lane-departure warning and Mercedes’ Pre-Safe braking system.
Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific managing director Horst Von Sanden said the addition of the CLS63 AMG ‘S’ will deliver “not only cutting-edge design and safety technologies, but also an exhilarating driving experience”.
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG pricing* | |
| Coupe | $262,645 |
| Shooting Brake | $265,145 |
