Mercedes R63 AMG (2006) CAR review

My, that looks a bit of a beast!

You're not wrong there. Mercedes new R63 AMG, which tops Mercedes' new range of six-seat R-models, is just what you'd expect it to be. Vast, fast, luxurious and with enough of a dynamic sting in its tail to fool you into thinking it's a wieldy sporting saloon rather than a 2375kg chunk of all-wheel-drive MPV. When it arrives here in September, in long-wheel-base guise only, it will cost a whopping £74,115.

It gets the same monster engine as other fast new AMG models, I presume?

Correct. Beneath the R63's swooping bonnet sits the all-alloy 6208cc 32valve naturally aspirated V8 that we’ve already just seen in the CLS. It's hooked up to Mercedes' 7G-Tronic transmission, driving both axles through the same full-time all-wheel-drive system that underpins the M-class. And it's one hell of a rev-happy and gutsy engine, punching out 503bhp at 6800rpm and 464lb ft of twist action at 5200rpm. Enough bicep to haul the huge and heavy R63 to 60mph in 5.1seconds and on to an effortless (limited) 155mph. Ask the chaps at AMG to remove the limiter and it will touch 185mph.