VIDEO: BMW's All-New M5 Takes On The Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG

Now that the all-new BMW M5 is out and about, the shootouts and head-to-head showdowns are going to start coming at a rapid fire pace.

One formidable foe is the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. Equipped with its bi-turbo V8 5.5-liter powerplant, it definitely has the grunt. But power isn't everything, and since AMG's are known to be heavy and not the most suave on the track, will that be the vehicle's greatest downfall?

Then again, who's really driving these sedans on the track?

Regardless of the video's outcome, which chest pounding luxury sedan would you choose?

Weigh in down below...


Watch as we put the M5 and the CLS63 AMG up against each other at the 2012 CAR Performance Shootout. The full feature is in the January 2012 issue of CAR magazine.

PQ40 - 12/15/2011 11:56:35 AM

+3 Boost

The CLS is a very good looking car, and with 590lb-ft it would be unbeatable on the street. On the track the M5 is so finely tuned, that in order to beat it you would either need much more power, or less weight. ITs similar to the M3..newer cars with more power, and about the same weight were always considerably slower than the older M3 around a track. It’s a testament to the quality of work M engineers put into their cars.

mmeecc - 12/15/2011 4:15:30 PM

+1 Boost

There's a reason the Benz is heavier, just more quality materials used, more soundproofing etc.... It's still impressive that there's less than one second difference around a 2 minute track between the two cars.

BTW, nowhere did it say that it had the Performance Package so it has 518hp/516 ft-lbs torque.

Joe_Limon - 12/15/2011 4:28:02 PM

+3 Boost

One cannot simply say heavier materials are of better quality. Aluminum and carbon fiber both prove you wrong.

94geo - 12/15/2011 4:53:28 PM

+2 Boost

I would bet money that was the CLS63 PP, when you see how close the drag race was. Evo raced the two and had a similar result, the standard AMG would have been further behind.

tom43 - 12/15/2011 5:23:35 PM

+1 Boost

The CLS is not heavier than the M5. It just feels heavier....

Yonder7 - 12/15/2011 7:03:31 PM

+1 Boost

Lets be fair ...Honestly I prefer the CLS but also honestly I think the M5 is better in the track less one second of difference means for that they were biased or bad drivers that were not able to take out all the real qualities of the M5. CLS is great but is also heavier than the E63 , that one should be gunned against the excellent M5.

quizz - 12/15/2011 10:31:01 PM

+1 Boost

I don't see more than 1% of buyers taking these cars over 80% of its limits so the differences in absolute performance are mostly academic and personal.