Car and Auto Reviews

Archive for the ‘Mercedes Benz’ Category

One of the best looking 4-door sedans out there has always been the Mercedes-Benz CLS, especially the top-of-the-line AMG version. That said, the newest version of the sleek and sexy Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG has retained it’s exciting design and solid performance. Furthermore, the newest version can achieve groundbreaking efficiency. Specifically, it can do 28.5 mpg, which is amazing considering that engine displacement is 5.5 liters. This is likely due to the new technology which we previously mentioned in a prior article. However, don’t be mistaken by the fuel efficiency because this car is still very mean.

Let’s start with the engine. As noted above, it is in fact a 5.5 liter V-8 engine despite the CLS “63″ badge. In case you’re not familiar with the prior naming convention, the number used to stand for engine displacement. In 2006, the AMG CLS initially came out with a supercharged 5.5 liter engine and was called the CLS 55, then in 2007 they replaced the supercharged 5.5 liter engine with the naturally aspirated 6.3 liter V-8 engine. Now, likely due to new CAFE efficiency standards and high oil prices, they are returning to a 5.5 liter engine with a biturbo but are keeping the CLS 63 name. Why? Likely because it may appear as a weaker model if the badge said “CLS 55″ when in fact the car is significantly more power.

The new 5.5 liter biturbo V-8 produces approximately 518 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque which peaks at 1,700-5,000 rpm. The prior generation CLS AMG 63 produced 514 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, so the upgrade is more on the torque side rather than horsepower. Read the rest of this entry »