Thursday 17th November 2011

LA Show: Mercedes

AMG triple header leads the Merc showing at LA, C63 Black Series and SLK55 joined by recently revealed ML63

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The opposing ends of the AMG cool wall

Jealousy is a terrible thing. And at the precise moment we were on the Merc stand gazing longingly at the C63 Black Series coupe PH contributor CJ Hubbard texted from just up the way to share the news that Laguna Seca is wonderful, the Black an absolute monster and, yes, he was having a lot of fun thank you very much. You'll be reading the full story here shortly but, suffice to say, the Black appears very much the real deal.

Of course, in a show packed with Mustangs, Camaros and Challengers it comes to something when the best V8-powered, big-cube coupe actually hails from Stuttgart rather than Detroit but AMG has always had a big presence in California and this is one of the biggest markets for its products. And though the 510hp AMG is outgunned somewhat by the monstrous 650hp Shelby GT500over on the Ford stand you'd have to hope it would hold its own in a straight fight. Or, rather, one comprising some twists and turns. Whatever the outcome the sound alone would be worth the price of admission to that particular showdown.

It's got a big V8 ... er ...

Hard to get quite so excited by AMG's main debut at the show though. The new-shape ML63 AMG may have gained AMG's latest 525hp twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 in place of the Black's 6.2-litre N/A unit but the ML is little more than AMG keeping pace with the X5 M and Cayenne Turbo for 'most pointless use of a V8' bragging rights.

Also on the stand and making its American debut is the new SLK55 AMG.A new 422hp non-turbo version of the 5.5-litre V8 boasts frankly startling efficiency figures - try 195g/km and 33.6mpg - and marks the return of the amusingly over-engined SLK in the baby roadster's latest form. Our man Hubbard's AMG hit will comprise this car too - stay tuned for his impressions from behind the wheel here in due course. Once he's stopped bragging about driving the Black Series that is.

 

[thewheelman]

Love the C63 Black AMG. One of the best sounding engines of the moment.

[Mastodon2]

The 63 engine is one of the great engines of our time imo, but that ML63 will forever be a turd on wheels as far as I'm concerned.

[MrTappets]

I want that C-Class so badly, but I hope you can get rid of that little rear wing.

[UltimaCH]

The C63 is monstrous but wait until the SLK BS comes out

[Guvernator]

That C63 Black is one of the best looking cars I have seen from Merc. I even like it in that red colour and that engine is a peach. Fanstastic effort

[pauly]

I just made a mess!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2hkYXkSHOw

[Mars]

PH said:

Hard to get quite so excited by AMG's main debut at the show though. The new-shape ML63 AMG may have gained AMG's latest 525hp twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 in place of the Black's 6.2-litre N/A unit but the ML is little more than AMG keeping pace with the X5 M and Cayenne Turbo for 'most pointless use of a V8' bragging rights.

Really?

Bit patronising dontcha think?

[lionrampant]

Would very happily have Santa bring me any one of them.

[will261058]

This C63 is indeed one of the best looking Mercs I have seen and I have just realised why, they have taken the headlights from an E90 3 series!

[Carfolio]

Mars said:

eally?

Bit patronising dontcha think?

No, dead on.