LuxuryCarMagazine En Luxury Car Review and News
Having the necessary coin to purchase a Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle is one thing but properly exploiting the car’s limits is a whole other challenge. I’m not talking about hitting 140 km/h on your local freeway as it can be done in a 10-year old Kia Rio, but truly pushing the car, its technology and performance put together by the good people in Affalterbach, Germany.
A weekend track event at CTMP (aka, Mosport) or Mission Raceway, is a possibility with a handful of cash but imagine drifting at more than 100 km/h on a frozen lake in a CLA 45, C 63 or CLS 63 AMG! This is how one really tests a car. For a few thousand bucks, and a plane ticket to Gimli, Manitoba, you’ll get the opportunity to beat on a CLA 45 AMG just like yours without worrying about tires, brakes or getting a nasty speeding ticket.
The C 63 S AMG is the brute of the pack. It’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 puts out 503 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. As the only RWD car on this fleet, it demands not only more respect but also loads of self-control. Mashing the throttle will only result in more wheel spin and spinning out.
The CLA 45, and its paltry 375 horsepower, not only exceed expectations because of its power but turns out to be fantastic tool for tackling tight and repeated corners. The 4MATIC system is front-wheel biased and therefore can be prone to understeer. Even so, it will carry insane drift angles and pull you through, almost every time.
The CLS 63 S is the Everest of power here. It features a biturbo V8 also but displaces 5.5-litres and pushes out 577 horsepower and 590 torques. On top of that, its 4MATIC AWD system favours the rear axle and thus, begs for enormous high-speed drifts.
As you can see, each car displays very different driving characteristics and the AMG Winter Driving Academy has prepared a brilliant program that not only introduces you to new driving techniques but also has laid out tracks that are specifically designed for these cars’ talents. As well, all AMGs are mounted with studded tires for a level of traction that is unexpected, to say the least.
Contrary to many driving schools like this one, the instructors allow and encourage you to put your skills to the test even before sitting through a class. This strategy will fast track your appreciation of the importance of the theory behind this type of driving. It starts with the typical driving position tips, to hand-over-hand steering technique all the way to how and when to brake. Luckily for participants, depending on the selected program, you’ll spend lots of time or even more time behind the wheel.
The Advanced AMG Winter Sporting Driving Academy will shortly be taking reservations for next winter shindig so here’s a tip: don’t wait as available spots are likely to get snatched up very quickly. Head over to the AMG Winter Driving Academy website for more details.
If you do sign up, we promise you that you will thank us.
