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Mercedes-Benz has lifted the veil on a new, more powerful CL63 AMG, less than a month after revealing a raft of changes to standard versions of its range topping coupe.

Set to go on sale in the UK later this year, the up-market performance coupe receives a series of mid-life styling tweaks, including larger headlamps, a restyled grille, more heavily contoured bonnet and re-profiled bumpers – all aimed at providing the CL63 AMG with added appeal against stiff competition from the likes of ...Read the full article

Its a bit of a shame they have ditched the epic 6.2l V8 that thing is such a beast and sounds amazing.  But you can't argue with the massive gains in efficiency that the new turbo engine brings.  There is something a little Bentleyish about the back end that I am not too keen on but thats just my view. 

I had a CL63 and the reason I got rid of it was because it was practically undriveable in the wet. It was permanently driving on traction control. Not good. Epicly fast in the dry and awesomely comfortable. The sound was amazing and I expect AMG will have seen to that on the new one too.

Sapphire and Steel:

I had a CL63 and the reason I got rid of it was because it was practically undriveable in the wet. It was permanently driving on traction control. Not good. Epicly fast in the dry and awesomely comfortable. The sound was amazing and I expect AMG will have seen to that on the new one too.

Merc seemed to have cured this by giving it another 100lb/ft of torque!   Just what it needs!

My favourite Merc, the CL. It's an imposing looking brute.

Sapphire, are you saying the traction control of your car didn't work well enough in the wet to make the car driveable?

That car looks epic, and more subtle than the old car, withl less aggressiveness and more flow on the exterior. One thing I dislike are the reverse lamps on the sides of the number plate area and the all-red tail-lamps. Those look totally American, and it looks a bit like, may I dare say, a Lincoln town car.

Overdrive:

My favourite Merc, the CL. It's an imposing looking brute.

Sapphire, are you saying the traction control of your car didn't work well enough in the wet to make the car driveable?

I don't think any traction control will work well enough to deal with that amount of power.

Sapphire and Steel:

I had a CL63 and the reason I got rid of it was because it was practically undriveable in the wet.

On a serious point regarding the car, the new version 5.5 twin turbo V8, with stop start technology, more efficient than the old old one etc.etc...As an owner of the old one (the only owner I know of) was one of the reason you got rid of it the economy? I would find it hard to believe it was.

I would have thought if one has enough cash to purchase the car, an extra couple of miles to the gallon are of no consequence in the real world. Whilst efforts to be greener should be noted, is it not simply a gimmick in a car of this nature? Whilst perusing the brochure for you purchase, did you first look at the MPG before deciding to part with your cash? Honest answers please, I have had a couple of gas guzzling monsters in my time, and the economy was not the reason I got rid of them or the reason I bought them.

So what is the point of the CL65 is the powered up CL63 is faster, lighter and more economical? Surely they might as well drop it now?

WheresMyElectricCar:

So what is the point of the CL65 is the powered up CL63 is faster, lighter and more economical? Surely they might as well drop it now?

 

The V12 has always been reported as extremely smooth - turbine like - compared to the V8. There will always be a limited number of people willing to pay extra for a V12, even if it has no performance benefit.  So long as there are enough buyers to justify the expense of development and manufacture, then Daimler will no doubt keep making it.

 

WheresMyElectricCar:

So what is the point of the CL65

China. Mumbai. The Gulf. Wall St. Squillionaire kleptocrats everywhere.

It's business, but you do wonder where we're headed.

Citytiger:

On a serious point regarding the car, the new version 5.5 twin turbo V8, with stop start technology, more efficient than the old old one etc.etc...As an owner of the old one (the only owner I know of) was one of the reason you got rid of it the economy?

the market for CL63 AMG must be around 40% America. The States has a gas-guzzler tax. any car with a fuel economy >= 22.5 mpg(US) escapes the tax. guess what? the new CL63 does 22.5 mpg. compared to the old 6.2 V8 CL63 that saves the buyer approx. $5,000. okay, $5k isn't much compared to the $145,000 price of the car in the States, but it's a psychological thing, and salves the buyer's green conscience, and especially in America, allows the buyer to escape badgering by the eco nannies. plus of course, lowering the AMG V8's emissions so dramatically helps its US CAFE figure and its back in Europe potential to avoid CO2-based fines from the EU in 2012 onwards. that explain it?

besides, if nothing else, it shows Merc-AMG's engineers are able once again to turn out another engineering tour de force, just five years after the extraordinary 6.2 V8. with the new sister, non-AMG 4.6 V8 bi-turbos about to go in S-classes, CLS-classes and so on, and the new 3.5l V6 Mercedes-Benz - known as "BlueDIRECT" engines collectively - is showing that in large engines it is at least the equal of anybody else out there, having even leap-frogged BMW's leading position with its turbo straight sixes and bi-turbo V8s for fuel economy and performance. well done, to these excellent engineers.