Safety is another huge plus point. There are several electronic nannies, many of which effectively prevent an accident. The stability control systems work in tandem with an electronic arsenal of brake assist systems to reduce braking distance, improve cornering control and even optimise straight-line stability in all weather conditions. The speed-sensitive direct steering system makes short work of directing the whole show. Couple them all to the dynamics at hand and you have to beg your brain to release its hold on your right foot.
I was, at the time, approaching a hairpin, and, picking up the pace, I threw it in. Tyre squeal was the first perceivable result, then a downshift and the engine bellowing. It held its line perfectly, there was a bit of body-roll, and the corner was done with. A trucker had chosen that very moment to overtake another and that had me step on the brakes and lurch to the side on to the dirt, something which it managed without drama, thankfully, because I was in ‘Sport’ mode. It tightens everything up. The stiff springs get stiffer, the steering gets sharper, the shifts happen later, the bellows become louder and your breathing, like the ML63’s, gets a lot quicker. Then there’s the power on tap. It is truly confidence-inspiring, and, given the amount of kit onboard, you just feel like taking the plunge every single time.
Of course, it’s not all about mad power and speed. You get loads of entertainment and communication equipment to make life as easy for you as the AMG Performance steering wheel which steers the car. The COMAND infotainment system is quite intuitive once you get used to it. The electronic prowess of the car you cannot ignore, yet, it lets you enjoy, manual-mode paddle-shifters and all. There’s more good news. Being lighter, it’s also more efficient: four kilometres to the litre in the city, and 5.5 on the highway. Good enough for me for a car of this size, weight and displacement. A 93-litre tank means you don’t have to stop too often on highway jaunts.
The ML63 AMG, then, is like a good cocktail: it’s cool, makes you feel good and has just the right amount of crazy hidden within.
