Category: Exotic Sports 
Price Range: £45,950 to £74,555
Obscenely fast, grippy, fantastic to look at, plenty of safety features.
Pricey, rear space is compromised, huge running costs, poor residuals.
The standard CLS is no slouch, but this thing just raises the bar. It's a perfectly manageable high-class hot rod.
The AMG uses the naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8. It produces 507bhp, delivers 464lb-ft of torque and hurtles to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds and up to a limited 155mph. That's plenty.
Power comes through the snappily-titled 'AMG speedshift plus 7G-Tronic' transmission that now incorporates a double-declutching function. This provides a better driving experience. The seven-speed auto transmission is very responsive, and has a manual mode that allows drivers to sequentially shift between gears using the aluminium gearshift paddles. There is also a sport mode for the transmission, which gives sharper throttle response.
Also new is the AMG sports exhaust system that has redesigned rear silencers. We use the word 'silencer' with caution since the sound that comes out of the oval-shaped, chromed twin tailpipes is, quite frankly, an aural treat.
Central to the CLS's on-road manners is the optional Airmatic DC, an air suspension system with the computing ability to respond to the way the car is being driven, so if you are going at speed the suspension automatically stiffens to reduce roll and pitch motions. This also contributes to a smooth and compliant ride quality when the driver is just cruising. It can, though, be caught out on occasion by nasty potholes, making the body judder.
The standard suspension is a conventional steel set-up. The rack-and-pinion steering also works well, feeding back information about the available levels of grip and weighting up nicely with speed. It's a speed-sensitive system, which gets lighter at low speeds to aid parking and other manoeuvres.
But what the hell? The thing goes like a bullet, handles beautifully and what's more, when you start over-hooning around corners all the technical gizmos start working to make up for any lack of talent you may or may not have. When you corner with gusto the seat side supports firm up to combat the centrifugal forces that will push you outwards. It's this rather strange feeling that tells you that this car is the boss - you are merely a human.
