Hooning A Mercedes CLS 63 AMG In The Wet Is Like Kicking A Bear In The Groin

It's depressing when you're greeted with miserable rain first thing in the morning; especially when you're about to drive a bunch of AMG Mercs later in the day. But, with the keys to a gleaming Diamond White CLS 63 Shooting Brake in my hands, it was time to man up and get behind the wheel of this 549bhp, rear-wheel drive wagon.

The first thing you notice is that the '63 really isn't subtle about its power. As soon as you hit the starter button, the 5.4-litre twin-turbo V8 rumbles into life, before settling down into a bassy growl.

You soon forget the sheer size and power of the thing, though; with light steering and the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox set to auto, the CLS is an easy car to potter about town in. On a clear stretch of road, the 549bhp and 531lb/ft of torque would soon change that, however.

Or so I thought. With the roads utterly soaked with fat British rain, the car's traction control simply couldn't figure out a way to transfer full-throttle demands onto the road. Clearly, then, driving one of these requires a different approach to the four-wheel drive CLA 45 I'd driven earlier in the day. With a more sympathetic right foot, the CLS surged forward, with a thunderous low-pitched roar from the V8.

With a more sympathetic right foot, the CLS surged forward, with a thunderous low-pitched roar from the V8.

It doesn't feel quite as fast as you might expect, until, that is, the revs pick up and the relentless wave of power kicks in. On twisty roads, that power feels more potent still. Despite the traction control staying very much on, accelerating out of corners revealed the CLS's true personality of a loose rear-end and a seductive charm, which goads you into pushing harder and harder through corners. I'd liken it to provoking an angry bear again and again, and not being able to stop yourself. Which I should imagine feels just as thrilling...

Thanks to its quick steering, the CLS has a darty feel, and with dry roads, it'll be nothing short of a B-road hooligan. Not that the CLS is a one-trick pony; it's also wonderfully comfortable, featuring a pair of excellent front seats and supple suspension. The imposing centre console gives a nicely cocooned feeling to the interior too which, by the way, feels every bit as special as it should do.

The CLS is even relatively economical; AMG's new 5.4-litre V8 is 32 per cent more efficient than the outgoing naturally aspirated 6.2-litre. But if I had the cash, would this be my AMG of choice? I'd have to say no.

Despite having far less power, the smaller, four-wheel drive A45/CLA45 AMG would tempt me away, given how useful and manageable they are in all weathers.

At £83,080 (before you start ticking expensive option boxes), the CLS SB is also £10,000 more expensive than the E63 AMG estate. For that kind of cash, the CLS really needs to deliver on the styling front to justify the premium, and for me, it doesn't. The four-door CLS is already a less elegant machine than its pretty predecessor, and once you add the sloping shooting brake-style rear of this version, you get a car that looks ungainly from multiple angles. Plus, if you go for the E63, you avoid the low roofline of the CLS.

Whichever V8 AMG you go for, though, you'll find that every journey is an event. Just make sure you wait for a dry day before going for a proper blast.

If you're keen to hear what this car sounds like, here's a short video.