2012 Mercedes ML 63 AMG price & options: Costs £82,995

2012 Mercedes ML 63 AMG UK price £82

The 2012 version of the range-topping Mercedes ML 63 AMG arrives in the UK at £82,995 – as long as you don’t trouble the options list.

The 2012 Mercedes ML 63 AMG made its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November, offering similarly bonkers performance to the last ML63 but with an impressive improvement in emissions and economy.

The 2012 ML 63 gets the latest 5.5 litre twin turbo V8 that’s supplanted Mercedes’ 6.2 litre naturally aspirated lump. That means daft performance for a big SUV of 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds thanks to the 518bhp and 560lb/ft of torque on offer.

And thanks also to the new twin turbo V8, the ML63 manages equally daft improvements in emissions and economy, with Mercedes claiming almost 40 per cent improvement in economy and almost 30 per cent in emissions.

Mercedes acknowledge the start-stop fitted as standard and the AMG Speedshift Plus 7-G Tronic  seven-speed as contributing factors in the stellar improvements, but whatever the headline figures says – and they say 23.9mpg and 276g/km – you’ll never come close in the real world.

At £82,995 the ML 63 AMG is not a stupid price compared to the competition (the X5M costs £83,260 and the Cayenne Turbo £84,790) although, just like the competition, you can spend a great deal more than list.

The AMG Performance Pack will set you back £6,165 (but you do get an extra 30 horses and red brake calipers) and the Driver’s Pack, which takes off the limiter, costs a mere £2,820.

But the standard kit is reasonable enough without the extra toys with AMG Sports Suspension, vented and perforated discs with Direct Steer and 20″ alloys. Active Curve with self-levelling air suspension also comes as standard and the usual AMG bodykit with LED running lights and a sports exhaust let the ML 63 shout its intentions.

Inside there’s an AMG makeover with leather sports seats, AMG instruments, COMAND with media interface, DAB, electric glass roof and a dash trimmed in Artico.

If you want a bonkers SUV, the new ML 63 AMG is a great candidate.

But try the Porsche Cayenne Turbo before you buy one.

(21 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK