SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8
This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you can get at home.
*To read one of our archived road tests, just select from the alphabetical menu of manufacturers' names on the left. Hover your cursor over the manufacturer's name, then choose from the drop-down menu that appears.
*Please remember too, that prices quoted were those ruling on the days I wrote the reports.
This is a preview report. In other words, it's simply a new model announcement. There was no driving experience so we can therefore not tell you what it feels like, what it will be like to live with over an extended period, how economical it is, or how reliable it will be. A very brief first description is all we can give you until such time as we get an actual test unit for trial. Thank you for your patience.
Pics supplied
Posted: Friday 20 June 2014
Thanks to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, back in 1816, we know that:
“In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure dome decree …”
Almost two centuries later, in Affalterbach Germany, AMG engineers created it. They slotted the latest version of their brutally powerful 5.5-litre, biturbo V8 into a lightened, and slightly restyled, version of M-B’s new S-Class coupé and gave it their bespoke AMG Speedshift MCT seven-speed sports transmission.
This is the latest model to benefit from systematic implementation of AMG’s Lightweight Performance strategy; reducing vehicle weight by 65 kilograms. That’s despite the car’s higher output and having more extensive standard equipment than its predecessor. Mass cutting was achieved largely by means of a lightweight lithium-ion battery, AMG forged light-alloy wheels and a weight-optimised AMG high-performance composite braking system.
Further, the entire outer skin and front end of the body are made of aluminium. Reduced weight means improved driving dynamics while cutting fuel consumption, and the high power-to-weight ratio of 3.41 Watt per kilogram results in effortless performance. The new S 63 AMG Coupé accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and goes on to reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
"The new S 63 AMG Coupé is another exciting AMG dream car in our luxury segment. With the S-Class Coupé, Mercedes-AMG’s model initiative is set to continue at a fast pace in 2014," says Florian Seidler, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa.
Dream car indeed: Despite the mechanicals, it remains pure Mercedes-Benz with fully customisable interiors, more advanced electronics than mere mortals can comprehend and its own distinct air of supreme opulence. New this year is a curve-tilting function that allows the S 63 AMG Coupé to lean into bends in a manner similar to a motorcyclist. The lateral acceleration acting upon occupants is reduced in a way akin to driving in a steep curve, so passengers sit more firmly. On country roads in particular, this new function enhances motoring enjoyment and comfort. The object is not to reach higher cornering speeds, but to produce an even more pleasant motoring experience. The function can be selected as one of three drive modes using the active body control (ABC) switch; it is active in the speed range 30 to 180 km/h.
But all the usual goodies are present; magic body control with road surface scan and ABC, LED intelligent lights with Swarovski crystals, fine Nappa leather (customisable from European restraint to almost Baroque), and Night View Plus.
A silver, left-hand drive version was flown out to Durban for an exclusive press preview at an upmarket venue in La Lucia, prior to its South African reveal at this weekend’s BBC Top Gear show at Moses Mabhida. The official launch is planned for Q4 of this year, while pricing is still to be decided. As the current version retails around 2,1-million Rand, I estimate that the wallet damage for a basic car will be in the neighbourhood of R2,5m.
I looked, listened and sat inside but couldn’t put my feelings into coherent order. An MBSA manager asked me what I thought of it. All I could articulate at that moment was, "Too much Mercedes, not enough AMG." What I really wanted to say was, “It's too much. Why can't we have a mechanical engineer’s car; a real AMG, not the Khan’s magic carpet but something with guts and soul.” But he seemed to understand: “We just may have something else in the pipeline for you.” I sincerely hope so.
Information gathered at a manufacturer-sponsored press event
Briefly:
Engine: 5461 cc, 32-valve, biturbo V8
Power: 430 kW at 5500 rpm
Torque: 900 Nm between 2250 and 3750 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 4,3 seconds
Fuel consumption, NEDC combined: 10,1 l/100 km
Emissions rating: 237 gm/km
Price: TBA
From European restraint to almost baroque...
This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.
Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.
I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material. If I ever place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with that vehicle at least once already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.
Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. As quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so they can see I do actually exist.
Comments?
Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously.
This site is operated by Scarlet Pumpkin Communications in Pietermaritzburg.
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs are courtesy of www.quickpic.co.za
Copyright this business. All rights reserved.
SA Roadtests
South Africa
ctjag8