UNCAGED

Celebrating the relaxation of the lockdown in the best way possible – three AMGs and the promise of great roads and good food

- SIMRAN RASTOGI

Like with all legendary road trips, hindsight truly is 20/20. But I get ahead of myself. Because when you’re thumbing the starter button to an angry V8 at 3:30 in the morning, the only thing you’re thinking of is not waking up the neighbours.

After five months of being locked down, a relaxation of the rules brought with it a seat-of-the-pants plan of a long drive down one of the best stretches of road we know. And the promise of “the best kebabs ever” at the end of it in Balasinor, a former princely state in Gujarat – with no dishes to clean up after either! Considering the 500km distance one-way, memories of smooth, fast roads and the fact that we wanted to fit in an eight-hour journey before lunch, we decided things would be infinitely more interesting in cars that were made to munch miles. Quickly. Dramatically.

You know, cars that have the two magical words ‘grand touring’ in their names. Like the ferocious AMG GT R which Rohit chose (got to first, rather), and the GT 63S 4-door that caught my fancy with its ‘most powerful AMG’ tag. And since Bert can’t seem to get enough of the hilariously entertaining rear-wheel-drive C 63 Coupe, that was his weapon of choice. Funny enough, the three cars share more than just a common maker, with similar 4-litre Biturbo hearts placed in their engine bays.