2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

As the in-house tuner for Mercedes-Benz, AMG bares the responsibility for extracting ultra-high performance from vehicles wearing the three-pointed star.

We certainly spent prime time at Willow Springs International Raceway with the latest that AMG has to offer, and it is quite a lot. Starting with the most impressive: CLA45. This all-wheel-drive 355-horsepower 4-cylinder had no problem keeping up with the other AMGs on the track. There is a tremendous amount of cornering grip and plenty of traction off of them. Unlike many rear drivers that require patient use of the throttle coming out of corners, the CLA45 allowed you to pretty much bury the pedal mid-corner and hunt for the next apex. 

But the real fun started when we got behind the wheel of this SLS AMG Black Series. Black Series models are the top of the line when it comes to AMG prowess. 

The suspension is kidney punching stiff, which helps you get not only through corners in a hurry, but get as much of that 622-horsepower on to the track as possible. Weight has been shaved with extensive use of carbon fiber and a full titanium exhaust system. 

BRIAN ROBINSON: Well, I don’t know how your day at the office went, but mine was spent driving some incredibly expensive AMG products at insane speeds around a racetrack. What did we learn? Well, we learned that Mercedes-Benz and AMG offer a total performance and luxury package that, really no one else can match right now.

JOHN DAVIS: Prices range from around $48,000 for the CLA45 AMG to $275,000 for the SLS AMG Black Series, with a wide range of products in between.