Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG

When it came time to expand its M-Class line for 2007, Mercedes-Benz added both a fuel-efficient model as well as a model that was decidedly not fuel-efficient. The first was the diesel-powered ML320 CDI, while at the other end of the spectrum was the AMG-outfitted ML63 AMG. Drivers now had an option of four vehicles in the M-Class, including the ML350 and the ML500, both holdovers from the previous year.

The ML63 AMG was the barn-burner of the bunch, and fuel-efficiency was not the ultimate goal here. Aggressive power and speed were, as was aerodynamic styling to support the goal of excessive speeds. It all started with a 6.3-liter, 503-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engine, which was the heart of the ML63. Everything else was built around that engine.

To the exterior, for example, AMG added such features as a distinctive front apron with low-placed air inlets, a low-slung rear apron, flared wheel arches, extra-wide wheels, and a sports exhaust system with dual chromed twin tail pipes.

Also adding a distinctive touch were the stainless-steel running boards with rubber studs. That same look extended to the interior, with its stainless-steel sports pedals equipped with non-slip rubber pads.

Interior luxury was another part of the AMG package, and to that end, the high-performance tuner added Nappa leather upholstery (seats, door panels, and arm rests), an ergonomic sports steering wheel, and a sporty instrument cluster to the ML63 package. It all made for an SUV that set itself apart from the other vehicles in the M-Class with raw power and one-of-a-kind styling.