High on the highway: The SL 63 and the S65 have some of the most powerful engines under their hoods

It’s appropriate that Mercedes-Benz chose Rajasthan for the Indian launch of some of the fastest and most powerful saloons and coupés in the world. After all, Rajasthan, was once a land of maharajas, palaces and fortunes. And a fortune is exactly what you will need if you want to own an AMG. It wouldn’t hurt to be a maharaja either.

These cars may look the same compared to their regular E-class or S-class stablemates to you, but under their skins lie some of the most powerful engines available to the enthusiast. Which means you will pay anything between Rs 96 lakh (for the SLK 55 AMG) and Rs 2.67 crore (for the S65 AMG). These are base ex-showroom prices, mind you. So, despite the global recession, Mercedes still sees it fit to bring these cars into India. Apparently, those who have the money, still have the money.

Mercedes-Benz brought us to Rajasthan because this state has the roads. The first 100-odd kilometres out of Jaisalmer towards Khejarla are especially brilliant, the kind made for AMGs. It’s where you can see ahead for miles and experience the relentless and scary acceleration of between 4000 and 7000rpm a 6.2-litre V8 AMG engine can build.

These roads will allow you to experience how the SL 63 gets to 100kph in 4.6 seconds and how nonchalantly it does a 200kph cruise. These roads will also allow you to experience the tremendous lateral grip and the exemplary ride quality it has (it’s firm, but never harsh). Mercedes, being Mercedes, refuses to compromise on the ride. But you’ll also experience the disappointing steering here. It’s vague around the straight-ahead but loads up nicely around corners.

On roads like this, you can experience a full-bore shift from the seven-speed automatic. It’s not as rapid or as smooth as the latest double-clutch gearboxes, but then, no DSG can transmit this much torque to the wheels without lurching on itself.

It’s worth looking at the spec sheet before driving the SL 63. It’s got 525bhp, from a naturally aspirated, 6.2-litre V8. It makes 64.2kgm of torque (a regular SL500 makes a mere 54kgm). It weighs a hefty 1,970kg and comes with a seven-speed gearbox with four modes — comfort, sport, sport+ and manual.

In manual, the gearbox will hold onto a gear right up till the 7200rpm redline and won’t upshift till you pull the paddle shifter. It’s got AMG’s three-stage ESP (Electronic Stability Program) that provides the driver a choice between standard and sport setting — the latter serving up greater slip angles before the onset of individual braking of wheels.

You can also turn off the system completely, but with this much power going to the rear wheels, doing so could get expensive, and dangerously fast. Needless to say, I didn’t even try switching it off. The car was scary enough with it on.

As much as this car is about performance, it’s also about flash. It’s designed to get you more attention than the average politician’s antics. Common starting procedure in the SL 63 goes something like this — twist the key and the engine blares itself to a start before settling down to a burbling idle. You’ve already got half the parking lot looking at you. Open the electrically operated metal roof (it’ll do the mechanical equivalent of a ballet) and you’ve got everyone’s attention. Leave parking lot amid cries of “arrey, yeh toh doosra gaadi ho gaya.”

The S65 AMG

Out on the highway, keep the roof down. It’s the best way to hear the V8 blaring away. It’s the best way to hear the ‘BRAAP’ when you downshift and the best way to hear the exhaust pop and crackle when you get off the throttle and the best way to put mortal fear into the odd camel. This car asks for more attention than a roomful of Paris Hiltons.

Sadly, this is probably the only side of the SL that most owners will ever find use for. But go beyond the noise and the spectacle and you’ll find a capable, talented, sub-sonic mile muncher. And, if used in such a manner, it has the potential to make you want to skip the business class and drive yourself there.

The other AMG I drove is a bit confusing. In fact, there’s something disturbing about an S-class that can hit 100kph in 4.4 seconds. It weighs 2.2 tonnes and it’s the length of a football field.

So the way it went around the last corner would have sent old Newton into a tizzy had he been alive to feel it. It’s just mind-boggling, there’s no body roll, no squeal from the tyres and absolutely no drama. If you wanted to know how modern technology can stick a thumb at physics, this is it.

The S65 AMG is an S-class after all. An S-class with the combined punch of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. A punch that can only be brought about by the tremendous 101kgm of torque the engine musters. Seriously, pressing the throttle is like dipping into the earth’s torque reserves, it’s that smooth and refined. The exhaust emits a muted, distant howl and the serenity that you find in the S-class is disrupted only when you realise that the scenery is flying past at an alarming rate. You see why it costs Rs 2.67 crore, but you wonder how many takers there are for such a ferociously fast luxury car. Bentley owners maybe?

Nevertheless, you can now go to any Mercedes-Benz dealer in India and order your own AMG. You’ll have to wait for two to three months depending on the level of customisation you want, but if you have the money, go for it. You’ll get full Mercedes service back-up and support which, among luxury carmakers, is the most widespread in India, and peace of mind. Which grey market performance car owner can claim that?

The only problem? AMG recommends 98-octane fuel for the cars. They will run on anything down to 93-octane, but regular unleaded is a strict no-no. So, go on, clean up your bank balance, get your AMG, get a map of fuel stations with premium unleaded and go discover India at double speed.