2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG Performance Center Launch Edition

[PGT]

One of 30 made as part of the new CLS launch. Designo paint in matte finish. Gorgeous. MSRP of $126K.

[avriette]

Is that the supercharged 5.5 or the 6.3?

[PGT]

Neither. The AMG 5.5 s/c engine is two generations old now. The last gen AMG was a 6.2L N/A. The new one is 5.5TT

AMG's Turn With the CLS63

"The S- and CL-Classes with the new M157 AMG engine," AMG Director of Engine and Powertrain Friedrich Eichler tells Inside Line, "both have lots of room under the hood, so the exhaust section between the manifolds and turbochargers is a straight path." Due to the packaging of the slightly smaller CLS- and E-Classes, this tube needs bending, which also helps with insertion of one of the engine mounting bolts. "It looks cooler, too," Eichler says, "and the power-transfer losses are minor."

Want more deep stuff?

On the 518-horsepower CLS63, ECU changes delay the ignition on cylinders four and seven of the 5.5-liter biturbo V8. "These two cylinders have very good load exchange with, therefore, greater air volume than the other six cylinders," adds Eichler. "This is what causes the greater rumbling vibrations in the S- and CL-Class.
The 518-hp "C218" CLS AMG gets to 62 mph a tenth of a second quicker. Then there's the Performance Pak, which turns up the boost to deliver 550 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. So equipped, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 shaves yet another precious tenth off its 0-60-mph time. If you would rather brag about top speed, the 186-mph delimited Driver's package with AMG driving school is also offered here as before.

[avriette]

Where is this "AMG driving school" and can one sign up for it?

[Mr Kleen]

http://amgacademy.com


Basic 1 day class is $1600; Advanced 2 day class is $3000; Pro 3 day class is "call." Courses are taught at Lime Rock, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

[avriette]

http://amgacademy.com


Basic 1 day class is $1600; Advanced 2 day class is $3000; Pro 3 day class is "call." Courses are taught at Lime Rock, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

Hm. Just looked at it. Says the 3-day class is $3,695. And it looks like you drive their cars rather than yours. So you wouldn't be out a set of tires/brakes. That almost seems worth it, except for the fact you have to do them in sequence. You can't just book the three-day class. You've gotta book the one-day, then the two-day, then the three day, so that's um (% open /Applications/Utilities/Calculator.app) $8,600 – per each. Sounds like a kind of fun vacation if wifey and I wanted to get away for a weekend. Certainly cheaper than going to, say, the Maldives or something like that.

Erm, sorry for the hijack. Totally awesome program, though. I could actually pay to drive somebody else's SLS AMG. Shee-it!

[Sabre]

Very nice... wish I had even half that in loose change for it!

[PGT]

no joke......that $$$ is just nuts. A standard CLS550 will be $70k and have a 4.6TT with 415hp or so. Same motor will be released in the '12 version of my car which weighs 400-500lbs less (and my car is already FAST with 50hp less)

[Raven]

Smaller, turbo engines. It's all about the CAFE and CO2 emissions now.

[complacent]

that is an incredibly gorgeous car.

[PGT]

I LOVE the two-tone seats from MB's Designo studio. So subtle, I didn't notice the first two times I saw the pics.