MANILA, Philippines - There are many reasons why the brand with the tri-star is the standard by which many other automobile brands are measured. Not the least of these is the fact that the company has time and again paved the way in terms of combining innovation, engineering excellence and aesthetic sense. Take the case of the CLS-Class… Envisioned as the world’s first four-door coupé, the original iteration of the CLS captured the imagination and the attention of not just Mercedes-Benz fans, but pretty much every car nut worth his motor oil. And now, its worthy successor has come around to impress us all, as well.
Last Thursday, July 14, CATS Motors unveiled to the public the 2nd generation CLS in perhaps its most awe-inspiring form – the CLS 63 AMG (sources say that the CLS 350 is set to arrive later this year). As the last three letters in its designation indicate, this is one Benz that’s got the chutzpah under the hood to match its striking good looks. The four-door coupé is powered by a 5.5-litre V8 bi-turbo AMG engine, which was developed entirely by Mercedes-AMG. It proves to be more efficient than the previous model with up to 32% more fuel efficiency at only 4.4 L per 100 kilometers. The refined coupé has a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.4 seconds, on its way to a governed top speed of 250 km/h. The newly developed AMG V8 bi-turbo engines features a peak output of up to 525 hp and 700 Nm of torque.
As is expected of any Mercedes-Benz model, the CLS 63 AMG runs the entire gamut where comfort and luxury features are concerned. There are, however, two very unique features that deserve special mention. These are the ECO Start/Stop Function and the Active Parking Assist feature. The ECO Start/Stop Function is different from other similar functions found in other cars today in that it is the only one in the segment of high performance sports cars. With the ECO Start/Stop Function, the engine shuts down when the car stops and starts when the accelerator is stepped on. When the car shuts down, the steering wheel, air conditioning system and other important features will still be working. This, according to our sources at CATS Motors, saves a significant amount of fuel.
Then there’s the Active Parking Assist feature, which is quite simply a hands free parking feature that is ably enhanced by several Assist Systems. This, plus RACESTART, a double-declutching function, seven gears, and four transmission modes make the CLS 63 AMG an incredible combination of emotional appeal, maximum driving pleasure, extreme practicality and optimum economy.
“We are very proud to make the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG available to our most discerning of customers. The CLS will always stand out as a car that’s fit only for those who want the very best that the Mercedes-Benz brand has to offer. It was specifically built for those who are driven, accomplished and powerful – a highly exclusive ‘peak’ target group,” explained CATS Motors president Felix Ang during the launch.
Indeed it is. This triumph of engineering is being sold at an introductory price of P12.8 million. Luxury may have its price, but this is one Benz that sits high atop the tri-star food chain. Intrigued? Do check it out at the CATS Motors Mercedes-Benz showrooms along Greenhills, EDSA or at the Bonifacio Global City.