C215 CL Class

IF you can imagine a big two-tonne-plus coupe with the performance of a Ferrari, you’re starting to get an idea of what it’s like behind the wheel of the Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG.

Introduced to Australia at the Sydney motor show in October 2004, the $460,000 Mercedes uses an AMG-modified, 6.0-litre bi-turbo V12 engine to make mincemeat out of many smaller, lighter supercars in straight-line acceleration.

It’s hugely capable in the tight stuff too, although there comes a point when inertia must have its way. But 1000Nm of torque cannot be denied, and if in some cases you might be relatively slow into a corner, you’re not necessarily going to be slow on the way out.