AIMS: Mercedes celebrates AMG anniversary

MERCEDES-BENZ will celebrate 45 years of in-house tuning shop AMG – and Australia’s status as one of AMG’s biggest markets – with a separate stand at this week’s Sydney motor show, hosting three unveilings and a total of eight AMG products.

The AMG menagerie will sit beside the Mercedes-Benz display, which will have 17 cars on show, giving the German luxury brand the third-largest stand at this year’s Australian International Motor Show and the largest display of any importer.

Three one-off AMG models built specially for the Sydney show will be unveiled, centred around Affalterbach’s famous naturally aspirated V8 engine.

GoAuto witnessed the unveiling of an SLK55 and a C63 coupe at today’s pre-show preview event in Sydney, leaving the third a secret until show day – although we can reveal it will be the flagship SLS supercar finished in special ‘Coarse Silver’ paint said to “bring new meaning to the word metallic”.

The new CLS Shooting Brake will make its Australian debut at Sydney in super-exclusive CLS63 AMG ‘Edition 1’ guise – of which just five will come to Australia three months earlier than the AMG’s official launch next year, meaning they should arrive along with the standard cars in December.

From top: Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS Shooting Brake C-Class Sport E-Class Sport Coupe and Cabriolet.

Mercedes also revealed basic specifications for the CLS250 and CLS350 Shooting Brake variants, which come with more standard kit than the four-door coupe version and are now available to pre-order.

As well, Benz will debut Sport upgrade packs for C-Class C250 coupe variants and Elegance or Avantgarde variants of the E-Class sedan, coupe and convertible – and the volume-boosting new A-Class hatch will make its first Australian appearance.

The SLK55 Sydney show special is kitted out with an optional handling package and rides on matte-black 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels that contrast with the matte-look ‘Cashmere White’ metallic paint finish.

Carbon-fibre trim strips adorn the cockpit, which is almost completely lined in ‘Mystic Blue Exclusive’ leather with white stitching and AMG embroidery, while opening the doors reveals white-illuminated AMG sill plates.

The C63 coupe show special is fitted with the power-boosting Performance Pack and is finished in Mystic Blue metallic paint and carbon-fibre exterior trim, with 19-inch titanium-look alloy wheels.

Its cockpit is trimmed in ‘Deep White’ leather with blue stitching and embroidery, while the dash top is covered in black leather with blue stitching.

Carbon-fibre trim pieces are dotted around the cabin and there are blue-backlit AMG door sills.

Over and above the standard CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake, the Edition 1 comes with an extra 24kW of power and 100Nm more torque, bringing the total to 410kW and 800Nm, resulting in 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.3 seconds – a tenth quicker than the standard car.

The car to be shown at Sydney has pearl white leather (black is optional), carbon-fibre interior trim, a DAB+ digital radio, Edition 1 floor mats, cherry wood luggage compartment floor and privacy glass.

The C250 Coupe-only $8150 Sport upgrade comprises black exterior mirrors, AMG sports suspension with modified camber and bearings, a brake upgrade, more direct speed-sensitive sports steering, a sports exhaust with sound generator, engine and transmission management tweaks with sharper throttle response, shorter shift times, double-declutching and throttle-blipping on down-changes.

It is applied in addition to the $6350 AMG Sports Package Plus that is now available on any C-Class sedan or wagon and includes gloss-black 18-inch AMG alloy wheels, AMG bodykit with rear spoiler, sports seats in black Artico upholstery, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, red seatbelts and stitching throughout the interior and red-edged AMG floor mats.

The E-Class Sport Edition carries a $2600 premium and comprises a claimed $7000 worth of extras including AMG bodykit, sports suspension, drilled front disc brakes and 19-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels.

Pricing for the CLS Shooting Brake will be announced closer to launch, but as it comes standard with more equipment and Mercedes usually charges a premium for wagons, it will probably cost more than $10,000 more than the equivalent four-door coupe.

However, the Shooting Brake’s entry price may be similar to the current base CLS sedan as it will launch in four-cylinder diesel CLS250 CDI guise (the sedan starts at $159,200 for the 3.0-litre V6 diesel 350CDI), while the CLS250 sedan is also confirmed to join the line-up as a new entry variant.

Shooting Brakes come with an AMG body styling, sports suspension and 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, twin trapezoidal tailpipes, an automatic tailgate, self-levelling rear suspension, a sports steering wheel, two-tone interior, stainless-steel pedals, a load cover and cargo net.

Along with the bigger V6 engine, CLS350 variants get a driver-assistance technology pack, keyless entry/start and a DAB+ digital radio.

Daimler city car subsidiary Smart will also be represented at Sydney, with the facelifted ForTwo making an appearance.

There are few planned changes to the existing Australian line-up of coupe and cabrio variants sold with a choice of naturally aspirated or turbocharged petrol engines.