LA Motor Show 2010: Merc CLS63 AMG

This is the one you've been waiting for - Mercedes has taken the wraps off the CLS63 AMG at the Los Angeles Motor Show.

The zesty-fresh CLS gets a thorough fettling session via those maniacs at AMG, who have fitted the four-door-four-seat coup' with the new 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8, taking over duties from the outgoing 6.2-litre V8.

See pics of the Merc CLS63 AMG

Standard power sits at 518bhp and 516lb ft of torque, rising to a gut-busting 549bhp and 590lb ft with the additional performance package, channelled to an awesome piece of oversteer via Merc's seven-speed semi-auto gearbox.

Merc reckons the new CLS63-which-isn't-a-6.3 will do the headline 0-62mph dash in 4.4 seconds, and 4.3 seconds with the performance pack. Derestrict it, and it'll top 186mph.

It obviously sits lower (15mm) and wider (24mm) than a boggo CLS, which, together with standard-fit 19-inch alloys, 'V8 Turbo' badges and a fetching bodykit clearly mark this out as Something Not To Be Messed With. If you're bothered, it reportedly does 28.5mpg, but that's probably at idle. Without moving.

Up until a few days ago, this would have been our perfect car. But then Merc confirmed the CLS estate, and an AMG version of that would be fine and mighty. Which one would you rather have?