The SUV Never Achieves The Light

The SUV Never Achieves The Light

The ML63 AMG is the potent, sport-focused model of Mercedes-Benz's M-Class mid-size luxury SUV range. Though the wisdom of a high-performance variant of a big, heavy and aerodynamically challenged SUV is debatable, customer demand is strong, and Mercedes has responded with the most powerful ML63 AMG to-date. The winding canyon roads above Malibu give insight directly into the soul of the beast. Console-mounted buttons summon more sporting personalities from the suspension and transmission. To accomplish this complete manipulation of the ML63's dynamics, AMG uses active damping control, active anti-roll bars, and airbags instead of coil springs. Sport mode is the best compromise for anything but the smoothest of roads. Directional changes happen fast and predictably on undulating switchbacks. The SUV never achieves the light, tossable feeling of a sports car, but rather beats physics into submission with big contact patches and intelligent suspension. In tight quarters, physics battles back, throwing hairpins and big braking areas at the heavyweight powerhouse.

Even the best engineers haven't mastered anti-mass technology, and all those pounds want to obey Newton's First Law of Motion. 2013 Mercedes Benz ML 63 AMG Front Profile In Motion When things start to get a little too hot, the vehicle understeers and bleeds off speed with squealing front tires grinding outside of the intended line. Suddenly all 2-and-half tons of high-riding SUV strong-arm the electronics and bring things back to reality. Even with a 40/60 front/rear power split, the stability control won't allow you to drive the car with the throttle. Once things start to get out of shape, the electronics call a timeout and reel things back in. It is amazing just how hard you have to push to find those limits, and the idea of any rational person finding them is unlikely. 2013 Mercedes Benz ML 63 AMG Rear Three Quarters In Motion Steering feel is surprisingly good through the contoured and sueded wheel. The seats are more than up to the task of holding passengers in place, and the bolsters don't get in the way of ingress and egress. Although the seats have the height adjustment of a barber's chair, even in their lowest position the height of the vehicle still gives a parade-float view of the road. Interior quality took a major leap forward in the redesigned ML, and the AMG version takes it another step farther. Material quality is luxurious and attention to detail abounds in spots only contortionists would be able to see. Even the doorjambs look as though they spent time in the design department to match the clean, uncluttered aesthetic. For those seeking something even more exclusive, Mercedes Designo can create custom interiors with contrasting leathers, rare trim materials, and even exclusive paints.

As previously, Mercedes-AMG deploys a specially designed transfer case for the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes the drive power to the front and rear axle at a ratio of 40 : 60 in the interests of dynamic handling. The electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering varies the power assistance depending on the vehicle's speed and also helps to save fuel. The AMG high-performance braking system provides for the shortest possible braking distances and high fade resistance. The ML 63 AMG rides as standard on AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels measuring 9 x 20, painted titanium grey with a high-sheen finish and fitted with size 265/45 R 20 tyres. Tyres in 295/35 R 21 format on 10 x 21 AMG light-alloy wheels are optionally available. The design of the new ML 63 AMG exudes self-confidence, athleticism and power. Under the radiator grille with louvres painted in high-gloss black and the Mercedes star in the centre is a large cooling air intake. Fitted at the bottom of the AMG front apron is a trim strip in matt silver chrome, which lends the front a wider appearance while harmonising with the surrounds of the daytime running lamps in the side cooling air intakes. Another eye-catching feature is the AMG rear apron with its simulated black air outlet openings and trim strip in matt silver chrome. In contrast to the other M-Class variants, the ML 63 AMG features two sets of visible chromed twin tailpipes. A sporty character and supreme quality define the interior of the high-performance SUV from AMG. This is embodied in the electrically adjustable AMG sports seats offering pronounced lateral support just as much as in the four-spoke AMG Performance steering wheel. The standard leather upholstery includes contrasting double topstitching as well as AMG badges in the backrests of the front seats and the outer rear seats.

The Mercedes Formula 1 team admits it would have tried a different Canadian Grand Prix strategy had it known a cooling change would bring so much extra pace. Lewis Hamilton was compromised by overheating when running close behind Sebastian Vettel in the first stint. At his stop - which came after the Ferrari driver's - the team made a quick adjustment to give him extra cooling. Such changes are common practice, especially at races where straightline speed is essential and teams go to minimal cooling levels in qualifying in order to minimise drag. When Hamilton's cooling compromise was removed at the stop, and after he was fitted with hard tyres, Hamilton had better pace than had been anticipated. Mercedes now admits that had it known that pace increase was there, it would have taken an aggressive approach and tried to undercut Vettel by pitting first. Andrew Shovlin in a Mercedes video. When Sebastian came in, we told Lewis to push but actually the tyres were degrading a bit and you can see his last two laps were actually no faster than the ones before that. And that was fundamentally why the 'overcut' didn't work. We'd have stopped him one lap earlier and it would've been close, but maybe it would've worked. So, of course what we did didn't work. But that meant we were struggling a bit in traffic.

While Mercedes may be known more for luxury and high tech toys than safety, the company has patented thousands of inventions. Many of these are now standard in all vehicles. Mercedes applies for thousands of auto-related patents every year. For any auto manufacturer, continual improvement is crucial for survival in the industry as well as the safety of drivers. Cars today are far more efficient, durable, and safe than they were decades ago, but most companies have only scratched the surface. While most of us are still waiting on our flying cars to debut, here are five historical innovations first implemented by Mercedes that we can take advantage of now. Although not invented by Mercedes, the company was the first to offer airbags as standard with all production line vehicles in 1988. It wasn't long before law required all autos to come equipped with this safety feature. Airbags are most commonly installed in front of the driver and passenger in the front seats.