Joy Ride

The Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 53 doesn’t just focus on speed and power – it also makes a bold visual statement.

- Nawaf Rahman

Shades on, windows down, hands on the wheel – I thought I knew what I was in for with the all-new Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 53. However, during our recent three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur to Cherating in this dynamic vehicle, the German marque’s third-generation CLS truly redefined what I understood of the clichéd expression, “more than meets the eye”.

While Mercedes-Benz rightfully has the reputation for quality and excellence, and we have certainly leaped into the driver’s seat countless times to take a whirl of its newest offerings, it wasn’t until the AMG CLS 53 that we realised a four-door coupe could be this beautiful and agile at the same time. The sporty front section strikes out with a twin-blade radiator grille in silver chrome and slim headlamps, while the rear incorporates the sharp, streamlined edges of many past Mercedes coupes.