AIMS: Benz to wheel out more bespoke AMGs

MERCEDES-BENZ will again debut specially built vehicles from its AMG hot shop at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney next month.

Three crowd-pleasing AMGs will take pride of place among around 20 current and upcoming Benz products, providing a follow-up to the ‘Jaffa’ orange C63 AMG Concept 358 and matte-black SLS gullwing coupe that slackened jaws at the 2010 Sydney show.

Future AMG products confirmed for Australia include the A45 AMG hot hatch, SL63 AMG sports car and CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake wagon but past form suggests Mercedes will instead come up with hotted-up cars from its existing line-up that it can sell after the show.

Mercedes-Benz Asia/Pacific corporate communications manager Jerry Stamoulis would not provide hints as to what the mystery Sydney AMG trio will be but he said some will be revealed in the run-up to the event, with surprises left for show’s media preview on October 18.

Meanwhile, candidates for speculation include the SLS Roadster supercar, ML63 AMG SUV, C63 coupe and SLK55 convertible.

Australia is the world’s fifth largest market for the Affalterbach-based hot-rod house, with the highest concentration of AMGs per capita.

What’s more, almost a fifth of Australian C-Class buyers opt for the V8-powered C63 AMG flagship – which has a list price at least $54,900 higher than the next most expensive variant.

AIMS director Russ Tyrie described this year’s 1200-square-metre Benz stand as “one of the biggest public displays of their vehicles ever in Australia”.

“In fact, it is actually its largest motor show stand in local history,” he said, adding that the German luxury brand is “consistently one of the highest-profile exhibitors” at Australian motor shows.

Mr Stamoulis confirmed the facelifted Smart ForTwo range will also be on display at the Darling Harbour venue but could not confirm if the new A-Class and CLS Shooting Brake – both set for Australian launch next year – will be at Sydney.

“We are still a little way away (from launch) and we are aiming to have as much new stock as possible,” he said.