What comes to mind when is AMG is mentioned in 2013? Probably some quite serious, very accomplished performance cars such as the
A45
C63
SLS Black
rather than the lairy saloons of yesteryear.
Whisper it, we hadn't heard of him either...
The point is that AMG has become known for its dynamic achievements rather than its outright silliness. But what the CLS 63 Shooting Brake by Spencer Hart represents for AMG, we're really not sure.
Spencer Hart is a luxury menswear brand (as if you didn't know?) and the Mercedes collaboration has been designed by Creative Director Nick Hart. Both companies are said to share common ideological beliefs of 'understated elegance, style and glamour', so this was a natural alliance...
So what's changed? Well, Mr Hart actually enjoys oversteer and so plumped for a CLS 63 with the £2,570 locking diff, after which he began removing weight and further upping power so... Sorry, he didn't really. Would have been cool though.
Instead what we have is an ostensibly standard CLS 63 with some styling 'enhancements'. The paint colour is 'Nick Hart Midnight Blue', with the chrome accents of the normal car replaced by 'subtle, dark, understated finishes'. Or black to everyone else. And wouldn't silver/grey have gone better with dark blue? Designer knows best...
Throw 'lavish' and 'opulent' at an AMG and stand back
The Shooting Brake's interior takes inspiration from the Spencer Hart personal shopping area called 'The Vault' in its Brook Street store (trust us, this is all true, we don't have the imagination). Ergo there's some walnut trim, Chocolate Brown leather with dark blue stitching and a Spencer Hart logo in each headrest.
Of his creation, Nick Hart commented: "It seemed a natural fit to work on a car project with Mercedes-Benz. I have always been a fan of the brand and creating something that was unique... has resulted in something that both Spencer Hart and Mercedes-Benz are proud of."
Mercedes UK's President and CEO Marcus Breitschwerdt added: "This car demonstrates that with creativity and imagination, which Nick Hart has in abundance, you can create something really special".
Indeed. However, for buyers after a CLS 63
OK, once through the PR guff it does look tasty
styled by a fashion designer (and who wouldn't?), they're out of luck; the 'by Spencer Hart' is a one-off for promotional purposes only. However, the AMG Performance Studio can, according to Mr Breitschwerdt, create 'cars as unique as their owners'. The mind boggles...