Just when we thought things couldn’t get
any bigger, Mercedes India brought in the GL63 AMG – a chariot for seven drawn
by 557 horses. Just how insane is it really?
Mercedes-Benz
GL63 AMG
You know how the producers never gave King
Kong a jackhammer or a rocket launcher? Why would they? Can you imagine the
chaos which would ensue if something that big got hold of something that
potent? And then you wonder why a 2.6-tonne seven-seater SUV would get
sportscar-like dynamics and a big twin-turbo V8 under the hood; for precisely
the same reason. Of course, this isn’t any old monster movie, it’s coming in
live, with real power, in the real world. You gotta love the Germans. They
figured that it’s already big and burly, so they might as well have some fun
with it.
So, yes, the GL-Class is huge. And it’s
evident from the moment you set eyes on it even from a considerable distance.
Don’t let the smooth lines and deceptive curves fool you. The massive size is
belied by both the design and the engine. But more on that later. First up, it
looks every bit the modern monument of a car it is under the skin. The amount
of equipment that Mercedes and AMG have packed into it make it seem that they
just had to make it that large. The car oozes style and, needless to say, has
massive road presence.
Mercedes-Benz
GL63 AMG - Side
Among the most noticed design elements
today are the grille, badge and headlamps, and the GL has them all in spades.
The big three-pointed star dominates the huge front grille, and there is more
technological effort packed into one headlamp than what goes into your average
family hatchback. The bi-xenon headlamps with Intelligent Light System feature
five functions for country, motorway, cornering, fog and enhanced active
lighting. Next up are the massive 21-inch wheels with fat 295-section tyres
which grab attention, filling up those big wheel-arches. AMG styling elements
are evident every which way with the ‘V8 Bi Turbo’ designation making it
perfectly clear what lies beneath. The bodywork is different from the other GL
on offer, the 350 CDI, with exclusive AMG bumpers, brake callipers and the logo
adorning each of the four exhaust pipes. The aluminium-finish vents on the
bonnet, grille slats, lip spoiler, roof-rails and side steps further add to the
appeal, especially on a darker-coloured car.
The interior is an experience of the
pinnacle of plushness, quality and luxury. Yes, it’s an AMG, but apart from the
badges and carbon-fibre trim elements, there is little which makes it feel as
hard core as it’s meant to be. The soft leather seats and cabin trim truly help
you feel cosseted and the amount of room there helps you breathe very easy. The
interplay of light and dark elements is pleasing and helps balance the sport
and luxury aspect. This is an expensive car, and it feels like one.
Sport luxury interior appeals to every
sense
