I really like this car. It's probably the epitome of what Merc set out to do with AMG before it blundered off to try chase BMW's M series too hard with this car's little brother.

In my mind a Mercedes-Benz AMG isn't supposed to copy a BMW M-car, but they compromised most of their strengths when they tried to make that C63 into an M3 and lost focus of what an AMG should be.

But this one's got it down pat.

Unlike an M, an AMG is not a hooligan's car. An AMG is a car that exudes all the comfort, style and class expected of a superior Merc but gives the driver the ability to comfortably deal with just about anything that comes his way.

That's why it has an automatic gearbox and an open differential — the trick diffs, manual and fancy gearboxes are for those more pointed M's. And that's why I like this one more than the rest — of Merc's current range, CLS63 best sums up what an AMG should be...

A puppy to drive, it lets you tootle about without a worry in the world when you want to (which, with the buyer profile of this car, is probably most of the time.) But when you want it, man, then it’s got it — and a whole lot more, too. Flatten it and CLS63 roars like a lion as it turns the world around you to warp dimensions, chasing that ghost in the tarmac. And it stops so hard it squashes your brain against your cranium.

Clearly a performer of absolute note, we have only one means of assessing all such a car's assets and failings — and that's our Kyalami Hot Lap.

To be honest, I emerged just as impressed as I was when I drove the CLS500 around the track and asked why someone would want any more. Well I got the answer.

Expecting CLS63 to be overbearing and rude following my recent ride in C63, I was more than pleasantly surprised how well poised this car is on track, despite being out of its depth in such conditions.

That power is seamless, seismic, those monster brakes brutal, but this car not only puts the power down impressively and stops consistently well; it also turns in, follows through and dances brilliantly in the curves and over the kerbs, feeding the driver with unexpected confidence and providing a stunning, wild ride in an awesome alter-ego to the city sleeper it can be out on the roads.

But it doesn't let you run free — our test unit overrode the manual and bareback modes after three laps, twice robbing us of our freedom to play…

Still, I reckon this car is the best AMG on the road and just gets on with being its brilliant self. A two-minute ten-and-a-half around Kyalami is pretty impressive for a car this big and heavy. It's a little off a C63, and gets a hiding from an M5, but who that drives this car will ever want those four seconds?

It's also five seconds quicker than its 500 sister, but just two seconds quicker than that car's Jaguar rival. Which is just about this car's only problem.

See, Mercedes-Benz always punted the CLS as its Jaguar hunter — the car that took all of a Jaguar's biggest strengths and melded them with those other Mercedes-Benz highlights to present a compelling and unrivalled machine in a very special niche.

Bet the Germans weren't expecting Jaguar itself to emerge as the biggest thorn in their side. But it has — Jaguar's XF SV8 compellingly thrashes its obvious rival and even poses a threat to this car — almost. If this were a shootout, the Merc would win, but only because this model is such a well rounded machine.

Jaguar is however ready to thrust the R version of their car onto the market, and when that 500-horse supercharged cat is tested on track and at altitude, we're becoming concerned that this hunter may just become the hunted.

But in the meantime, there's very little wrong with this car just as it is. It's the best AMG they build…

WE LIKE
Merc’s Jag Hunter King pushes all the right buttons
WE DON'T
But is it enough to beat Coventry’s latest, too?

SAFETY (Euro NCAP)
Adult Occupant (5): n/a
Child Protection (5): n/a
Pedestrian (4): n/a
Airbags: Front, side and curtain
Safety Equipment: ABS, BAS, AMG-tuned ESP, ASR, Neck-Pro, Pre-Safe, tyre-pressure monitoring system.
CIA Security Rating (5): 4

WE SAY
"There’s no denying that this Merc is a real beast to drive, that I’ll give it. But the styling disappoints me. They had an opportunity to ditch function for form and create a stylish coupe-like sedan. Instead we have a rocky marriage between a Citroen C4 front and old-Ford-Falcon back." -Jason Woosey
"Like a bumblebee shouldn’t be physically able to fly so this Merc shouldn’t be as fast as it is. It is super large, super luxurious and super fast. It handles and stops too. With buckets of practicality thrown into the mix, CLS 63 AMG is a beast limo that would make me think twice about wanting a traditional ego stroking supercar." -Stuart Grant

AT A GLANCE
Engine: Monster 7000rpm V8 = 9
Chassis: Balanced, Best AMG = 7
Transmission: The best auto = 9
Brakes: Built to stop a mountain = 9
Safety Waiting for NCAP = 8
Handling: Nanny meddles too much = 7
Specification: Lacks Merc tricks = 8
Cabin: Uglier than a BMW = 7
Styling: Makes a great statement = 9
Fun Factor: Gimme more = 9

Total: The best of the AMGs = 82

VERDICT
Daring looks, brilliant performance and a fine compromise between dynamics and comfort make CLS63 the best AMG of the lot.