REVIEW

It was a very sad day when Mercedes revealed the new CLS. Not because it didn’t look very good – far from it in fact as the new model looks far better than the predecessor. No, the big issue is that Mercedes announced that there wouldn’t be a CLS63 AMG version with their snarling, fire breathing V8 – instead that job will be taken up by a new model. But just a few weeks later at the Detroit Motor Show Mercedes revealed the CLS53 AMG, a new model that sits between the ’43 and ’63 ranges (obviously). It uses a slick new 3.0 litre turbocharged straight-six engine which has a 48V electrical system which allows for the engine’s normal 429bhp to be boosted by 22bhp for short bursts, while torque is boosted to 770Nm too. This is known as a ‘mild-hybrid’ system but it’s all about performance, not economy. So it may not be as powerful as the old ’63 but performance is hardly any different. And the new CLS looks amazing with the AMG treatment, in fact it may be the best looking Mercedes in years.