Another insane AMG hits the shores.
Keep ‘em coming!
It’s always a special occasion driving a
car of the ‘holy s**t, this is fast’ variety. This particular time, however, it
wasn’t just any low-slung, on-a-diet, barely-any-creature-comforts-to-speak-of,
kind of sports car.
For that matter you can’t get further from
a sports car than a 2.3-tonne SUV with all sorts of luxury bits that cocoon you
from the world outside. The same world that you are monstering past at some
pretty scary velocity. And while you may be listening to delicate harmonies on
the sound system, outside the roar will be anything but refined. You see, this
isn’t just any truck. It’s not even the regular ML-Class with the relatively
docile 2143cc/2987cc powerplants. No sir, this is the outrageous ML 63 and
those excitable fellers at AMG have put in a 5,461cc V8 under the hood, so that
no hot little number with two seats will get past you in a straight line.
The
Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is a visual standout from every angle, inside and out
I can’t begin to stress how quick this
heart transplant has made the ML. The numbers speak for themselves: 550 bhp and
77.4 kgm of torque; 0 to 60 kph in 2.8 seconds and 0 to 100 kph in an
astonishing 4.9 seconds. And please don’t forget that is no carbon-fibre waif:
we’re talking about a mammoth 2.3-tonne leviathan.
It’s all relatively civil in the beginning
and unless you know better, there’s very little to tip you off that this is the
mighty ML 63. The biggest give away are those massive 20-inch AMG wheels, but
other than that, the only indicators are AMG-badged floor sills, seats and a
flat-bottomed steering wheel. I thumbed the starter button expecting there to
be a massive growl from the V8, but got no such response—as docile as a regular
ML. Slot it into Drive, give the throttle a slight dab and still no fireworks.
Then you get impatient, switch to Sport mode, adjust the suspension to Sport+
and mash the throttle. Instant gratification ensues. It’s laughable how this
thing comes alive—like a lioness shaking out of slumber and charging to protect
her cubs. You get the point.
Once
you’re inside, the Mercedes ML63 AMG starts to shine as it has one of the
nicest, user-friendly cabins in its class
The power surges in one strong, hard pull
right up to the redline. And then BAM! Next gear, and the same orgasmic
pleasure curve to the redline... again and again. I’d love to say you could go
on like this all day, but traffic being as uncooperative as it is in India, all
you’ll get are the short moments to revel and grin before someone cuts you off,
necessitating a stomp on the brakes. And in that regard, those massive discs
and Pirellis do a fine job of hauling this car down from ludicrous speeds.
After a lot of hard usage the brake pedal does get a bit soft, but brake feel
is still in the region of more-than-adequate. To throw in another stat, hard on
the brakes, the ML63 will come to a dead halt from 100 kph in 2.85 seconds.
Massively impressive, this thing.
The
Mercedes ML63 AMG has enough space for three adults in the rear seats with
extra legroom to stretch out
So it’s monstrous in a straight line and
great at shedding speed too, but you’d think twice before showing it some
corners, wouldn’t you? Well, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Its bulk is hard
to hide in the twisties and the tyres do tend to squeal when pushed hard. But
on most occasions you wouldn’t be pushing it to the limit, as you would be in
some sort of pseudo race scenario, and right up to that limit, it performs
admirably. Body roll’s kept in check once you’ve set the suspension in Sport+
mode and the sticky Pirellis do their job really well.
AMG’s
twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine has more cubic capacity than any other
performance SUV
What could have been better was steering
feel. It doesn’t give you the most communicative experience, and there’s a bit
of play at higher speeds that can be unnerving. At slow speeds it’s a bit
better, so swerving away from those hard-to-spot gashes in the road is easy enough.
Speaking of which, the ride is a bit on the firm side, but not to the point of
being uncomfortable. There are three settings to choose from—Comfort, Sport and
Sport+, and Sport mode’s pretty much the best of both worlds.
See
those quad pipes? They're just for show. Hiding behind them is a single barrel
exhaust
Everything else is standard Mercedes. That
means you get a well-appointed cabin, the same as the regular ML for the most
part, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that considering the standard
accoutrements. There are two screens at the back; a very useful 360-degree
reversing camera; heated and cooled cup holders; a sunroof; hill-hold control;
and you can raise the height of the car for when you plan to do a bit of mud
driving—it’s certainly well-kitted. I could nitpick and say that there could
have been a few more add-ons to justify the price you’re paying over a regular
ML, and that criticism is applicable to the exterior, too. But that’s about as
far as the downsides go.
That brings us to the price. This sort of
superlatively manic performance and ample luxury comes for the rather princely
sum of $249,420 (ex-showroom, Delhi). That’s steep, whichever way you look at
it. But if the Mercedes badge appeals to you and you’re looking for extreme
performance from a vehicle that also has to transport five people with luggage,
then there’s nothing out there quite like the ML63 AMG.
