Mercedes’ Los Angeles auto show stand is seldom a dull place, and indeed
the only dull thing on the stand this year was the special
matte-charcoal paint covering the brand’s featured debutant, the CLS63 AMG.
Called Manganit Gray Magno, the spooky hue hints at the sinister
character of the CLS63, which was further confirmed by the crackling
exhaust note heard as it rumbled onto the stage.
The AMG exterior treatment looks good on the new-for-2012, E-class–based
CLS and its “four-door coupe” proportions. The aluminum hood and front
fenders have been reshaped, and combine with a deeper front air dam
housing twin LED light bars to give the car a wider-looking stance and a
more bad-ass look in general. In back, a diffuser insert and the
thinnest of rear lip spoilers should help stability while exploring the
upper end of the CLS63’s speed range, which is electronically limited to
155 mph on standard versions and 186 mph on those with the optional
Performance package. The gorgeous, purposeful-looking five-spoke wheels
measure 19 inches in diameter and are wrapped with performance rubber
measuring 255 mm wide up front and 285 mm wide in the rear.
Inside, the CLS63 features upgraded sport seats, and burl walnut trim is
standard—although we’d probably opt for the carbon-fiber or piano-black
inlays, both of which seem a bit more in line with this beast’s
character. A three-spoke steering wheel, aluminum shift paddles, and a
stubby shift lever round out the interior changes.
The body and interior aren’t the only elements that get significant
upgrades, of course: the chassis has been retuned as well. The CLS63 AMG
features steel coils in front and air springs in back, with automatic
ride-height control and electronically adjustable, three-stage damping.
The electrohydraulic steering has been tweaked by AMG, and the
stability-control system has three settings to enable occasional
tail-waggin’ fun within a broader safety envelope. When you get on the
brakes, get ready to slow down quickly: all four brake discs measure
14.2-inches in diameter. The show car had gold-painted brake calipers
emblazoned with the word “ceramic," and carbon-ceramic brakes will be a
special-order option. A limited-slip differential is available, too, as a
standalone add-on.
