Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG S

Just kidding, it’s not a new concept anymore is it? No, thanks to the likes of the Porsche Panamera, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Audi A7, and of course the genesis of the whole thing the original CLS. We refer to the fact that pushing aside concern about compromised rear headroom in favour of a more svelte profile has become A Thing. The original CLS was ten years ago, then a niche product from a Mercedes-Benz that didn't yet fully own the AMG tuning arm. My, how times have changed.

Since then the Affalterbach operation has grown from exclusive skunkworks to the most prolific and important part of the MB machine, plastering more of its badges on vehicles than ever before, not to mention designing its own performance cars from the ground up. Which is why, at the launch of the new CLS, I bided my time with as much patience and composure as I could muster in the more practical 250 and 350 diesel derivatives, ditto the 400 and 500 petrols, until at last I was tucked behind the leathery helm of the main event.

This CLS 63 isn’t any old AMG either, being the hairier-chested S model. One with a tyre incinerating 430 kW and 800 Nm at the disposal of its boosted V8 heart, enabling a zero to hundred sprint of just 4.1 seconds. Cogs are swapped via Benz’s Speedshift 7-speed auto here, although lesser models benefit from a full-cream 9-speed ’box.

Needless to say it goes like the proverbial bullet with a booming soundtrack that could give the devil nightmares, and boasts an alacrity and agility that belies its two-tonne bodyweight. So it’s the quintessential AMG saloon: big on entertainment, bigger on presence and we love it, (big) sticker price of R1.6 million notwithstanding.

I should mention that the 2015 version is really a facelift of the existing model just a nip and tuck though, as Merc have not felt the need to go full ‘Rene Zellweger’ on it. So in addition to a revitalised engine line-up, the entire range now debuts Multibeam LED Lamp technology. It’s brilliant, so to speak. Four control units calculate light patterns 100 times per second based on visibility, proximity of other vehicles and even GPS data to provide you with maximum lighting without dazzling other traffic; a system able to expand, contract and bend the light source as the road demands. And that makes me happy as it allowed me a bit more daytime at night in which to unleash the ‘bad boy’ AMG.