Benz plans AMG feast for Oz

MERCEDES-BENZ has big plans for AMG in 2003 with five bristling new AMG models - two of them new to Australia - to be rolled out in five months.

And an ambitious new loyalty program for AMG owners aims to increase the Stuttgart skunk works' profile here.

Already the fifth biggest market in the world for AMG - and the third biggest for the ML55 - Australia could become an even more popular destination for AMG's performance products in 2003, when an unprecedented eight AMG models will be offered Down Under.

"We're already one of the biggest supporters of AMG and this is very much an AMG country, but we have even bigger plans for AMG next year," said managing director Mercedes-Benz passenger cars Matthias Luhrs at last week's E-class launch.

"An AMG owner's program will be a reality from October.

"It will be exclusively for AMG owners, who we will communicate with on a regular basis and invite to special AMG events such as wine tasting - not necessarily just drive days."Mr Luhrs believes a strong range of new AMG products, increased supply and a higher profile could take Australia up to the fourth best selling AMG nation next year, behind only Germany, the US and UK.

Before then, the 368kW (500hp) SL55 AMG will go on sale in Australia for the first time, its $359,474 price tag and supercar-beating 4.7-second 0-100km/h acceleration making it the new Mercedes-Benz price and performance flagship.

Also set to appear at the Sydney motor show in October before going on sale in November is the E55 successor, which will also feature the SL55's supercharged 5.5-litre V8 for a relatively paltry $219,900. This time delivering 350kW of peak power, the much lighter E55 matches the SL55 for claimed 0-100km/h acceleration.

Due around the same time is the new CLK55 AMG, which continues with AMG's current naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8, while the facelifted CL55 coupe and S55 sedan - another new model introduction for Australia - are expected to appear here around March next year.

Both models will pack the blown 350kW V8, bringing the number of Australian AMG models to an unprecedented eight, including the recently facelifted ML55, plus the C32 and SLK32. Then there's the prospect of an AMG-fettled Sport Coupe.

SL is likely to be the volume selling AMG, with up to 100 orders out of the 600-strong order bank. But E55 has always been a popular AMG model here too, as has the ML55, while the newly introduced S55 will be even more limited than the CL55.

Mercedes-Benz is ahead of its record sales year so far in 2002, so the late arrival of many models should easily make 2002 a 12,000-plus unit year.

The arrival of new AMGs and a volume-selling S-class in the S350 puts Benz in good stead for 2003 too, but customers will face hefty delays.

"At the moment all AMG cars are spoken for, particularly the SL, but we havevery good flexibility for each month's allocation. V8 demand has beenunprecedented lately," said senior executive product planning and management Andrew Harlock. The E-class wait is currently out to January.

Mr Luhrs said rumours that the next generation BMW M5 and Audi S6 would employ V10 engine technology were not a problem for high performance Mercedes models.

"That's okay but that doesn't mean they will effect our sales," he said.

"I mean, I don't think that the people that go for an E55 for an M5 or M3 really choose on the basis of whether it's a V8 or a V10 or V12. As long as you get the right output out of the engine, I think it's more badge driven, status driven."