Merc’s magic feature feels like a big hug!
INEVER thought I would describe a sporty performance Mercedes as a huggy car – but, yup, that’s exactly how I feel about the AMG S 63 Coupe. Every time you go round a corner the sides of the driver’s seat move in to support you. It’s a bit disconcerting at first but after a while it’s really quite comforting, as if someone else cares enough to give you a cuddle.
Practically speaking though it gives you additional control, especially on long bends where your body may be inclined to lean towards one side.
It’s called Magic Body Control with Curve and far be it from me to suggest that the person who thought up that name was last seen shopping in the lingerie section of their local department store.
That apart, there is really nothing at all soft or domestic about this car. It is a long, lean beast with a beautiful silhouette and two doors sitting on elegant alloys.
As a car it has it all – AMG bodystyling, a stunning, what Mercedes call, Panamericana grille to differentiate this particular series from any other, a sports exhaust system and wonderful strobing lights.
A friend who called round was quite smitten, describing it as the kind of car James Bond would drive. Sorry but it’s mine – well for the time being.
Inside it is as beautifully finished as the exterior suggests. It is all Nappa leather and where there is not leather there is high gloss carbonfibre.
The dash sweeps round like a spaceship and there are 64 colour choices of ambient lighting. I liked the glowing blue, elegant at night but not enough to annoy you.
The front seats come with a massage function and all seats front and rear are heated.
There are only two in the back which actually makes this car seem even more luxurious. After all, who cares about practicality when you are driving something like this. And let’s not forget the AMG badges on the backrests and the central armrest.
The drive itself is a thing of beauty. The default mode is Comfort but add to that refined, elegant, smooth with power at your foot whenever needed. The speed sensitive AMG sports steering gives you control and instant response.
After drooling over the looks of this car you will be transported by how it drives. To heaven and back.
Naturally as a Mercedes it comes with a vast array of safety systems including blind spot assist, active lane keeping, a 360 degree camera, reversing cameras, active parking assist and even automatic child seat recognition along with many others. Indeed this car had Night View Assist Plus – an option for £2,080.
It has a head up display, an excellent sat nav system as part of the Comand Online, a Burmester sound system and DAB radio and if you want you can link your smartphone for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
I particularly liked the Swarovskitype crystal on the central console storage. On any other car…
The basic price of this car is £127,515 although the one I drove had almost £30,000 worth of extras on it. Frankly if I was offered even the basic, you wouldn’t see me for dust.