Vehicle: 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG with AMG Performance Pkg, Premium Pkg and AMG CF trim
Price as tested: CDN$127700
Performance: Before Mercedes innovated the original CLS in 2004, coupe used to stand for 2-doors. After many copycats followed by other manufacturers, Mercedes improved the original concept with the 2nd iteration of the CLS. The most important question remains on whether CLS is the one to beat on this segment?
As one would expect from the house of AMG. Its biturbo 5.5 liter DOHC 32-valve V8 is a gem of engineering excellence. Mesh the heavy throttle as all Mercedes does. The CLS takes off like a rocketship. With 518hp and 516 lb/ft of torque. With the additionof optional AMG Performance Pkg on our tester, it transformed from 518hp to 550hp while torque up from 516 lb/ft to 590 lb/ft. Given these numbers, the desired result is nothing short of amazing. The biturbo set-up doesn’t generate any kind of annoying turbo lags when stepping into the throttle. There are just aplentry of power right from the bottom of the rev range right into redline. All have done with the usual array of refinement, silky smoothness and NVH one associates with Mercedes luxury sedans. In the guise of CLS63 AMG, its one heck of a supersedan. Mated with this amazing powertrain is Mercedes’s 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with paddle shifters, dubbed AMG Speedshift, in Mercedes marketing terms. Once again, Mercedes’s hallmark refinement with gearbox continues to be impressive. With the paddle shifters able to override at any given gears is an added bonus. That is easily explain why its able to move 2415kg of CLS63 with so much ease. Add to the fact that the engine note is one sort of entertainement, its just gonna prove that genius at AMG is able to transform a good one into a great one.
Handling: If you have guessed CLS is the sporty version of the E-Class which its loosely based on, then you are dead on about this puppy. Along with the wonderfully stout and solid chassis, while adding Mercedes’s Airmatic suspension to the mix to combine a sublime yet composed package. The single biggest improvement to CLS’s dynamic package has to be its steering rack. Mercedes steering used to have dead on-center feel and feedback, which is never my cup of tea. With the new steering rack on CLS, which will spaw through all future Mercedes products. Both the on and off-center feedback have addressed 180 degrees, turn-in and responsiveness have improved dramatically. Mercedes steering used to drive us nuts, this one has given us a delightful surprise which give this tri-star brand a whole new direction for producing sporty products. Other than the steering, the Airmatic’s “sport” setting has changed CLS’s character significantly. With “comfort”, it rides as sincerely and comfortably as any full-size Mercedes sedan. With the press of a “sport” button, it has changed from a full-lined luxury limosine into a true sports sedan. The steering becomes sharper while suspension has stiffened up, for less body motion, when pushed it to the max. The latest generation of ESP has improved its instrusiveness, although it remains quite abruptly instrusive whenever driver wants to have its tail out. What is most impressive is whenever driver press the “Sport Plus” on AMG 63, its able to transform it from a luxury sedan into a real sports car. Combined with the fact that its a rear-driver with ideal 50/50 weight distribution, CLS could well be the most capable Mercedes with 4-doors and a trunk. Last but the least, its still able to provide a Mercedes-esque ride comfort which one expects from Stuggart. Its a sporty driving machine without beating the passengers up.
Brakes: With large 4-wheel discs and standard ABS, its able to stop the heavy CLS63 AMG with ease. The stopping distance is short, while pedal feels solid and reassurring. Even after a couple of hard stops, its still able to stop without any brake fades. Add to the ABS which doesn’t step in unnecessarily is an added bonus.
Interior: If you expect the 4-seater CLS to have decent headroom, then it have lost of whole point of the “4-door coupe”. The legroom is more than acceptable. However, the C-pillars have given out rather catastropbic feel for rear passengers. The same goes for the rather swallow trunk space. Even if it has a nicely padded trunk hinges, CLS’s luggage space is the new definition of how a letter box “should” be designed. However….however……..:)
The silver lining to all those who complaint CLS as form over function is the availability of an E-Class sedan. All of the space have lost in CLS will certainly found aplentry in this classic Mercedes mid-size luxury sedan, if you don’t mind running into all those silver and grey ones at the same intersection…..:D
Its in front where CLS exceeds. The use of classy materials with top-notch fit-and-finish are dead giveaway for a car costing this much. Those leather sports seats provide superb comfort for both short and long distance travel. However, its navigation system is not the most initutive I have used.
Conclusion: When the original CLS came out, many have wondered whether there will be a 2nd generation since it was an answer no one has asked before. In fact, this concept is so successful that there are so many copycats have followed suit. The CLS remains the one to beat in this “different” category. That’s despite the fact that its styling isn’t as bold and stunning as the original car came out.
Competitions:
Aston Martin Rapide
Audi S7 Sportback
Porsche Panamera Turbo
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG
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Performance: 5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 2/5
Value-for-money: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5