| Facelifted Model | 2008 Geneva Motor Show | Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG |
Mercedes' relentless programme of revisions has reached the CLS 63 AMG, which gets the same minor styling tweaks as the rest of the four-door coupé range. More pleasing than these small changes are the new 19-inch alloy wheels and sports exhaust that become standard.
As with the regular CLS models, the AMG now has a two-bar grille at the front and reshaped side skirts and rear apron that wraps around the quad exhaust pipes. The rear silencers have been reworked to create a clearer noise, all the better to make the most of the engine's growl.
The aural delights of the 514bhp 6.2-litre V8 engine are now heard more of the time as the CLS 63 now comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox that blips the throttle on down-changes. Not only does this sound good, it also helps to smooth progress and keeps the car more stable when being driven hard.
Other identifiers of the revised CLS 63 are new rear lights where the LED lamps have been shaped into arrows to give following cars a clearer signal. There's also a new steering wheel with contoured rim and paddle shifts for the gearbox's manual change mode.
The CLS 63 AMG will be officially unveiled at the
Geneva motor show next month. Prices are expected to be announced prior to the car going on sale in the UK in April.
Alisdair Suttie - 11 Feb 2008