2007 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

New for 2007, the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG was one of two vehicles in the automaker's CLS line of four-passenger, four-door coupes, as Mercedes referred to them. But unlike its CLS sibling, the CLS550, the CLS63 featured an engine, suspension, brakes, and interior and exterior styling by AMG, the in-house performance tuner for Mercedes.

The CLS vehicles were distinguished by their unique exterior styling, which featured arched rooflines, similarly arched contour lines from front to rear, and concealed B-pillars that gave the cars a sophisticated yet sporty appearance.

To that, AMG added a number of styling enhancements, including a new grille, front apron (the area below the grille), chrome-surrounded fog lights, rear apron, rear spoiler, and side skirts, all of which gave the vehicle a more aggressive appearance.

That's all well and good, but of course the real measure of an AMG vehicle is what's under the hood. The CLS63 AMG was powered by an all-new, naturally aspirated 514-horsepower, 6.3-liter V8 engine built solely by AMG. The engine was linked to AMG's Speedshift 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission.

Other AMG-specific features of the car included a sports exhaust system with dual twin chromed tailpipes, a high-performance braking system with internally ventilated composite brake discs, an AMG rear spoiler, and a sports suspension with AMG shock absorbers and stabilizers to provide balanced and dynamic handling.

Inside, newly designed AMG sports seats were equipped with body-hugging side bolsters to provide comfort and maximum support even at the highest speeds. The interior also featured Nappa leather upholstery and trim, an easy-to-read three-dial instrument cluster, brushed stainless steel sports pedals with non-slip black rubber pads, and an ergonomic steering wheel with pronounced contouring and aluminum shift panels behind the wheel that enabled drivers to easily shift gears manually.

The CLS63 AMG was also equipped with rack-and-pinion power steering, an Active Body Control (ABC) self-leveling system that helped to reduce body roll to ensure a comfortable yet sporty ride, and an Electronic Stability Program that monitored steering and braking to keep the car stable and balanced under aggressive driving.

Drivers were particularly attracted to the CLS63's sophisticated yet sporty styling, as well as its acceleration, handling, maneuverability, and quality craftsmanship. Some drivers felt the suspension was a bit stiff, however, while others pointed out that the CLS63 lacked some of the features in Mercedes' other vehicles.