Mercedes-Benz CLS63 Reviews

Having engine stop/start on a car like the Benz CLS 63 AMG doesn't seem to fit.

The boss of Mercedes says the new S-Class is the best car in the world. That sounds like something that we should try out for ourselves. Doesn't it?

Shooting brakes were conceived and crafted to carry people and their assorted gear on hunting trips.

They cost a similar amount of money and have V8 engines, but there is still a world of difference between the Mercedes-Benz Actros and CLS 63 AMG. We are at Eastern Creek raceway just out of Sydney for the ultimate comparison between the premium truck and the extremely powerful four-door luxury cruiser.Of course, the Actros is at home on the highway with a big load on the back, but we have brought it to a racetrack for a bit of fun to see how it compares against its smaller sibling without a trailer. In truckie talk, this is called running bobtail.The CLS, which is big for a car but small compared to the Actros, is better suited to cruising country roads or navigating the city, but this is the hot AMG version which means it fairly handy on the track too.It might seem ridiculous to compare the two vehicles, but they could have more in common than you might think. They produce a similar amount of power although the engines are very different.The Actros has a 15.9-litre V8 diesel with one turbocharger that makes 440kW (598hp), pipping the CLS which has a 5.5-litre V8 petrol unit with two turbos that churns out 410kW (557hp). The contrast is much starker when it comes to the torque, the pulling force, with the Actros pumping out a whopping 2800Nm compared to the CLS 63's 800Nm.While the Mercedes coupe engine makes its peak torque between 2000-4500revs, the Actros hits maximum torque at just 1080revs. However, the Actros has been designed to tow huge loads and is able to lug up to 130,000kg as a triple road train and has been set-up accordingly. It is limited to 100km/h, but it's gearing and differentials mean it would only hit around 120km/h even if the limiter was removed.The AMG also has a limiter, but it only cuts in at 250km/h. First up, we check how fast these things get off the line.The CLS 63 has a sophisticated launch control system that means it can blast from 0-100km/h in just 4.3 seconds. If you try to accelerate without the launch control feature it will take a couple of seconds more because it's really hard to stop the wheels from spinning. There is so much power that it will not only spin its wheels in first, but also struggle to maintain traction in second as well.The Actros is a completely different machine and it takes all of 29 seconds to get to 100km/h. Of course, it has a narrower torque band and has to change gears a lot more often to hit the 100 mark. The Actros also weighs 9895kg, compared to the CLS at 1870kg, and it takes a while to propel something so heavy. It also takes more effort to stop, which is why the next part of the test is so impressive.We hit 100km/h and then brake at a set point. The CLS 63 pulls up quite quickly without much fuss. The Actros decelerates fast and the cab lunges forward dramatically. I'm certainly glad there is no trailer on the back. Incredibly, the Actros takes just 10m longer to pull up than the much lighter car.Next up, we take the two vehicles through a slalom made up of witches' hats which are spaced fairly close together. Getting the Actros through at a good pace takes a lot of work behind the wheel and the cabin sways from side to side. It looks dramatic, but never feels as though it is going to tip on its side. I find it hard to judge the distance between the edge of the truck and the witches' hats and take out an average of one per run.Now it's time to hop into the CLS 63 and it feels a lot different. You sit so close to the road and the engine response is so fast. I head towards the first witches' hat and go to apply a similar amount of turn to the steering wheel as I had in the Actros. Given the steering ratio is much shorter, so you don't have to turn the wheel much, the CLS turns much harder and more aggressively. And another hat bites the dust.It takes a little while to get used to. After a couple of sighting laps, it's time to record a lap time in the CLS 63. The main problem with this is getting the power down. If you are a touch too aggressive on the throttle the back will step out.It seems like a waste to have so much power in a car that will rarely make it to the track and won't be carrying more than four people and their luggage. You can't even get a towbar for this thing. With a top speed of more than 220km/h and high pace through the corners, the swooping four-seat coupe does the lap in 1m54.41 seconds.The Actros is immediately hindered by its 100km/h limit. It pulls up fast coming into the tight turn two, using a mix of the engine retarder and the wheel brakes. If I only used the wheel brakes (also known as service brakes), it wouldn't take long before they got too hot and start to smoke. Without a trailer, the Actros manages far higher than expected cornering speeds. Even more special is the way it accelerates out of the corners. Using its massive reserves of torque it surges through the revs before the automated transmission pulls the next gear.This engine is designed for hauling loads and not slinging a prime mover alone, but it is an eye-opening experience to feel what it can do without having to lug anything. The traction control works hard in the corners, although the inside wheels of the rear two drive axles give off some smoke coming hard out the bends.In the end, the Actros records a time of 2m58.25, which is not bad when you consider how tall and heavy it is.While the performance of both vehicles provides the fun, the safety is all important. Both machines have had access to the same safety technology. They use advanced radar cruise control, which keeps a safe distance to the vehicle in front and can even brake heavily, without input from the driver, when a collision is imminent.You might expect a luxury machine like the CLS 63 to have features such as lane departure warning, which sends a vibration through the steering wheel, but the Actros truck also has a version of the system, albeit a bit simpler. Instead of vibrating the wheel to alert the driver, it sends a noise through the speaker on the side of the truck that is leaving the lane. Given a fair amount of accidents happen when drowsy truck drivers leave road, this could be a real life saver.Mercedes-Benz Actros 2660Engine: 15.9-litre V8 turbo dieselPower: 440kWTorque: 2800NmTransmission: 16-speed automated manualWeight: 9895kgTop speed: 100km/h0-100km/h: 29 secondsMaximum towing capacity: 120,000kgPrice: $250,00 plus (depending on specification)Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMGEngine: 5.5-litre V8 twin turbo petrolPower: 410kWTorque: 800NmTransmission: Seven-speed automaticWeight: 1870kgTop speed: 250km/h0-100km/h: 4.3 secondsMaximum towing capacity: N/APrice: $263,500 plus on-road costs.

Maybe it's just the superb engine but Benz's new CLS 63 AMG hits the spot.Released this week Benz has tidied up the styling of its four-door coupe, with a sleeker more aggressive interpretation of the swoopy original.The V8 has been upgraded with more power and torque and there is now a diesel for those buyers who appreciate the more relaxed mode of motoring — and the number is growing with each passing year.VALUECompetitors? The CLS has none really.The closest are probably BMW's ugly GT or perhaps the Audi A7, although we haven't really seen a performance version of either car yet.Benz was the first in this segment and it has struck the first blow again with the release of the second generation CLS.Initially there are two models from which to choose: a 3.0-litre six cylinder turbo diesel (the 350CDI) priced from $159,200 and the top of the range CLS 63 AMG, with a 5.5-litre biturbo V8 priced from $263,500.Launched in 2004, needless to say the four-door, four seat CLS includes plenty of hi-tech toys, like the LED head lights which are the first full LED setup in the world and made up of 71 separate high output, low consumption LED globes.The CLS is also the first Benz to get lightweight, frameless aluminium doors, adaptive brakes prime themselves as soon as you remove your foot from the accelerator and the steering is now electro-mechanical instead of the old hydraulic system.There's even 11 airbags to keep you safe in the event of an accident — count them.By the way the performance pack if can you can't live without it will set you back an extra $17,900 and lifts the usual 250km/h speed limitation.TECHNOLOGYTwo other models with petrol engines are expected to arrive later in the year — the CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY and CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY.For the time being, the diesel is nice and certainly no slouch, not with 620Nm of torque on call — but the AMG, if you can afford it, is without peer.The 5.5-litre biturbo V8, a replacement for the 6.2-litre engine, produces 386kW of power and 700Nm of torque in standard form, or 410kW and 800Nm with the performance pack. That's more power and torque than the larger 6.2-litre engine, hailed as the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in the world.Pound for pound, the new model is 35kg lighter, faster out of the gates, with 0-100km/h taking 4.4 seconds (or 4.3 seconds with the peformance pack) versus 4.5 seconds for the previous model. And, here's the good bit, it's able to do all this using 30 per cent less fuel, with consumption rated at 10.0 litres 100km vesus 14.5 for the old car.DRIVINGWhat's not to like? After driving this car I found myself wondering whether it was the V8 that I was drawn to or the car itself, or the two combined — because they're difficult to separate. The sound from the bi-turbo V8 is nothing short of glorious, providing the driver with huge reserves of power and the ability to overtake at will.But, if it was performance I was after, I found myself pondering whether it would perhaps be more prudent to buy the C63AMG, saving $100,000 and getting a smaller faster car into the bargain? But then, the V8 in the C-class is a different one. Benz actually produces five different V8s and the one in the C-class is the naturally aspirated 336kW 6.2.For those interested in economy and who isn't these days, the AMG used 14.5 litres/100km over a distance of 260km while the diesel, rated at 6.2 litres/100km, used just 6.5 litres/100km over the same distance.MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 63 AMG Price:  from $263,500Engine: 5.5-litre biturbo V8Power: 386 kW at 5250 rpmTorque: 700 Nm at 1750 - 5000 rpmTransmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmissionFuel use: 10 l/100 kmCO2 emissions: 233 g/kmPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.4 seconds

The squirrel didn't know what nearly hit it. The roadkill candidate can thank the massive ceramic brakes and the latest ABS technology fitted to Benz's newest blaster for a last-second reprieve from a death sentence. A four-legged lockup and the massive ceramic brakes on the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 meant it came, literally, within a whisker of oblivion instead of being the local scavengers' next meal. The squirrel fled back to the safety of the scrub; the four-door coupe rolled on unruffled.It says a lot about the dynamics of the car that doesn't so much as twitch, despite the fact the brakes hauled 30km/h off the speedo and the vehicle was being tipped into a corner. AMG head Ola Kaellenius repeatedly talks about the "longitudinal and lateral stability" of the latest product from the Mercedes-Benz performance arm during its global launch in San Diego and we're not about to argue with him.But there is a lot more to the CLS 63 than its stability and brakes. It's the newest upgrade of a Benz product and follows the introduction of the regular CLS, a smoother car all-round despite its confronting looks, than the original four-door coupe.VALUESome people will see the CLS63 as a cheap and practical alternative to the two-seat SLS Gullwing; while for others it will be hard to justify the $280,000 or so (Mercedes Australia can't confirm pricing until closer to the car's arrival in the third quarter this year) when they can put a pair of C63 AMGs in the garage for similar money. Ante up, though, and you'll enjoy best interior materials and gadgets and the latest in Mercedes' hi-tech arsenal of electronic driver aids, matched to a stupendously quick engine and racecar-capable chassis. It all comes down to disposable income, I guess.TECHNOLOGYThe CLS is a mobile electronics and engineering showcase. Under the skin is a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, which should make this a CLS55 AMG, but someone obviously decided to stick with the existing 63 designation. Whatever the badge, it has more power than the outgoing unit, but improves fuel consumption by 32 per cent to 9.9 litres for 100km.The MCT (Multi-Clutch Technology) seven-speed transmission that harnesses the 386kW and 700Nm is a work of art. The torque converter has been replaced by a compact wet clutch for takeoff and it uses a double declutching process to change gears on the move. The accompanying software has four modes ranging from stop/start engine shutdown at the lights in the Controlled Efficiency mode, to "race start" launches when the wick is turned up.That power is harnessed by a three-mode adaptive suspension system that does a great job of keeping the car flat in corners, off the line and under brakes, along with a staggering array of electronic safety systems from sensors that monitor driver fatigue to brakes that "pre-arm" themselves to cut vital time off emergency stops.STYLINGMercedes pioneered the four-door coupe look with the original CLS. The latest version is more organic, with a shrink-wrapped rear end that emphasises the car's predatory lean-ness and the roof curvature.In the hands of AMG's design team an SLS-style front grille replaces the regular unit, the front guards have been artfully pumped to cope with the 24mm wider track and there's a rear diffuser insert and boot lid lip spoiler. Opt for the performance pack and the spoiler comes in carbon fibre.They're subtle touches that still make it stand out from the CLS pack. And then there's the "V8 Biturbo" badges that hint at the performance lurking under the sheet metal and alloy panels.SAFETYThere are enough cameras and radars to spot a stealth aircraft, but in the case of this car they're aimed at other vehicles and lane markings.In all, 12 driver aids are built into the luxury limo, with the active blind spot system and lane keeping assist now linked to the stability control, which engages the brakes on the opposite side of the vehicle to the detected threat to keep the car, and its occupants, out of harm's way.The LED headlights are a first, too, and AMG says the 71 lamps project as well as bi-xenon models  but last five times longer and emit a light that is closer to daylight than xenons to reduce eye strain.DRIVINGA road launch was never going to do AMG's take on the CLS justice. The test loops ran from freeway commutes to tight turns and a series of fast, flowing curves through the Cleveland State Forest.With the seats, dash and doors bound in enough leather to send a PETA-proponent into a frenzy, it's a relaxing and refined place to travel to the theatre or head interstate. The Harman Kardon stereo system is superb and the aircon is virtually instant, front or rear. All four seats have electronic adjustment, so finding a comfortable seating position is just a flick of a switch away.And then you give the accelerator a bit of a tickle and hang on as you're pressed back into those comfortable seats. It's all a bit disturbing as the spectacle in the front windscreen rapidly moves to the rear-vision mirror and the speedo arcs up faster than an ignored B-grade starlet, but there's no wind or road noise and only a deep, muted snarl from the exhaust.It's only when the road's straight enough for a full-throttle go that the V8 really makes itself heard and by then it's being felt enough that not even a US highway will cope with more than a few seconds of pedal-to-the-floor play. Try the same thing in a corner and the back end will marginally step out of line before the traction control and common sense intervene. It's then that you appreciate the dynamic seating as the side bolsters automatically compensate for G-forces during cornering.The electromechanical power steering is weighted to ensure you know exactly where the 19-inch hoops are pointed without needing any effort to adjust line.VERDICTIf you can afford to consider the CLS63 AMG, you won't be disappointed from a performance or practicality viewpoint.RATING8.5/10MERCEDES-BENZ CLS63 AMGPrice: $280,000 (estimate)Engine:  5.5-litre twin turbo V8Power: 386kW at revsTorque: 700Nm from revsTransmission: Seven-speed multi-clutch automatic, rear-wheel driveFuel use: 9.9 litres/100km (US cycle, claimed, combined)CO2 emissions: 231g/kmBrakes: Ventilated composite discsWeight: 1795kgPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.4 seconds