Mercedes CLS63 AMG (2011/2012) LA Debut

The Mercedes CLS63 AMG 2011 gets debuted at LA

The Mercedes CLS is probably our favourite Mercedes. It’s the Black Sheep of the family that dares to eschew the family style and sensibility. It ploughs its own furrow beyond just the obvious four-door swoopy-coupe thing. And in CLS55 guise we adored the ‘Wrath of Thor’ soundtrack and barking mad power delivery.

That barking mad power delivery got more refined in the CLS63 – which was a bit of a shame – but we have high hopes for the Mercedes CLS63 AMG in its latest guise – the AMG version of the recently revealed 2011 Mercedes CLS range – as it’s the third Meredes to benefit from Mercedes new 5.5 litre twin-turbo lump, which replaces the old 6.2 litre naturally aspirated one.

Power is up and so is torque, and by digging a bit deeper in to the bank account you can have that power up quite a lot. Standard fare is 518bhp and 516lb/ft of torque at 1750rpm. Which is quite pleasant, and although only 9bhp up on the old 6.2 litre lump there is an extra 10% torque.

But if you dig a bit deeper and add the Performance Package to the CLS63 those outputs increase to 549bhp and 590lb/ft of torque. That will translate in to 4.3 seconds 0-62mph and 155mph, but if you want to dig even deeper and opt for the Drivers Package too then top speed jumps to 186mph.

Despite all the extra oomph on offer from the 2011 CLS63 we have to remember that this is eco-obsessed 2010, so Mercedes need to show the world that they care by offering all this extra power without cost – to your pocket or the environment. So the CLS63 gets stop-start system and brake energy recuperation to help tweak the figures, and it works.

The 2011 Mercedes CLS63 AMG manages to average 28.5mpg with Co2 emissions of 232g/km. That’s an improvement in economy of almost 50% – almost unbelievable - although you won’t come close to that figure if your right foot does what it should and uses what the CLS63 was built for.

Beyond the oily bits and the eco bits business is much as you’d expect from an AMG Mercedes. The front end gets beefed up with a new bonnet, wider wings and a deeper front bumper. There are wider sills and a discreet spoiler on the boot together with a re-shaped back bumper and the CLS63 rides 15mm lower than the standard CLS.

Still our favourite Mercedes.

By Cars UK