Mercedes hits AMG high notes with CL65 and S63

MERCEDES-BENZ has again flexed its considerable muscle in the ultra-luxurious high-performance car sector, confirming last week that both the AMG-branded CL65 and S63 will be arriving in Australia in the not-too-distant future.

Having used its 450kW/1000Nm 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 in the S65 AMG to claim the title of world’s most powerful series-production saloon, the German manufacturer has seen fit to cram the awesome engine into the CL series, and when it arrives in October – priced from a remarkable $474,974 – the CL65 AMG is set to become the nation’s most powerful coupe.

Even quicker than the stunning new Speed version of Bentley’s Continental GT super-coupe unveiled earlier this month, the CL65 AMG (like the S65 sedan) boasts claimed 0-100km/h acceleration of 4.4 seconds – a tenth of a second faster than the Conti GT Speed, which uses a 449kW/750Nm version of Volkswagen’s 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12.

Mercedes also claims that the speedometer needle will reach 200km/h in 13.3 seconds, as the flagship CL – which will crown the beautiful-but-expensive coupe range released in March – hurtles towards its restricted 250km/h maximum.

As we have seen in both the S65 and SL65 AMGs, the handcrafted 5980cc V12 bi-turbo reaches its peak power at 4800rpm (and maintains it to 5100rpm), while the incredible 1000Nm torque peak is produced from 2000-4000rpm.

It combines with an AMG Speedshift five-speed automatic gearbox, which includes aluminium-coloured steering-mounted shift paddles and an S/C/M (Sport, Comfort, Manual) mode which alters the transmission characteristics, modifies throttle response and changes spring and damper settings.

Befitting a sticker price as high as this one, and the evocative AMG connections, the CL65 AMG has among its standard features 20-inch AMG double-spoke forged wheels (supporting Z-rated 255/35 tyres up front, 275/35 at the rear), various carbon-fibre AMG exterior adornments, AMG sports suspension, AMG sports exhaust (including two twin-chromed AMG V12-design tailpipes) and AMG high-performance brakes with new double-frame sliding callipers at the front.

Claimed to be a world first, the twin sliding callipers are said to combine the advantages of a floating-calliper brake – that is, lower heat transfer to the brake fluid and optimum brake pad placement – with the performance of a large fixed-calliper brake. The rear brakes use a large frame-type sliding calliper.

Composite blind-drilled brake discs are used at both the front and rear, measuring 390mm and 365mm respectively. Stopping performance from 100-0km/h is 35.6m.

As well as the AMG tiller, the cabin includes AMG sports seats finished in “Exclusive Passion” all-napper leather trim in a new AMG V12-diamond pattern. An AMG instrument cluster (with speedo calibrated to 360km/h) and other details – race-timer among them – are also onboard.

Arriving in September priced from $349,974, the S63 AMG will be the latest of what has become a rather long line of ‘63’ models to reach Mercedes showrooms in Australia, bringing together the S-class sedan (in standard wheelbase) and the AMG-developed, all-aluminium 6.2-litre V8 engine.

While not in the same league as the V12 twin-turbo, this is a wonderful mill with peak power of 386kW at 6800rpm, and peak torque of 630Nm at 5200rpm – specific outputs that are claimed to be higher than any other series-produced natural-breathing eight-cylinder engine in the world.

Fitted standard with the AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic transmission, the S63 AMG can accelerate to 100km/h in a claimed 4.6 seconds. It, too, has a governed 250km/h top speed.

As is to be expected, this gearbox also has AMG shift paddles and S/C/M transmission modes, the latter combining with the standard AMG sports suspension.

Other AMG signature traits are found across the vehicle, including body styling, (19-inch) light-alloy wheels, a high-performance braking system and the AMG interior fit-out.

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