Sleek, quiet CLS63 luxury sedan demolishes rowdy Camaro and C63 AMG at Castrol Raceway in Canada.
The video above comes to us from YouTubers IJVideos and it features a second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG taking on a pair of quality competitors on the Castrol Raceway drag strip. While this sleek sedan doesn’t look like the car that should win each of the races, the 550-horsepower AMG gets down the faster than either of the opponents.
Competitors
The video above showcase a second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG taking on an C63 AMG and a Chevrolet Camaro SS. While we do not have any details on these specific cars, we know the basic stock details for each.
The CLS63 came from the factory with a 5.5-liter, twin turbocharged V8 delivering 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. Depending on the model year and trim level, the C63 offers anywhere between 451 and 518 horsepower while the sixth generation Chevrolet Camaro SS packs 455 horsepower.
So the CLS63 has more power than either of the competitors, but as the largest of the three, will that power overcome the weight advantage of the C63 and Camaro? Also, the C63 seems awfully loud, leading us to believe that it might be modified, so it seems like the bigger Benz might be in for a battle.
Racing Action
In the first race, the CLS63 takes on the C63 in a clash of twin turbocharged, performance-luxury machines. The CLS rolls through the water box while the C63 does a loud burnout, making you wonder whether the smaller Mercedes might be modified enough to knock off the big brother.
As both cars stage and the green lights drop, the C63 roars away from the line, taking an early lead as the two race off into the sun. However, the CLS63 appears to catch and pass around the half-track mark as it cruises to an easy win – running a 12.47 to the C63’s 13.23.
In the second race, the CLS takes on a new Camaro SS and while the Chevy hops out to an early lead, the big AMG once again comes from behind for the win. On this second run, the Mercedes runs a slower 12.70, but it still beats the 13.37 by the Camaro.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
