LUXE OFF-ROADING INMOROCCO

Riaan Jacob George took the nifty Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 out for a rather long spin through the Atlas Mountains, and here's his verdict

While driving a Mercedes-AMG on the streets of Mumbai or Delhi may be commonplace, I often lament that city roads do not do justice to the sheer prowess and capabilities of the German carmaker’s performance range—AMG. To truly enjoy the vroom of a 4.0 litre V8 engine of an SUV like the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, I need to take it out into rugged terrain and long stretches of tarmac to push it to the limits.

This is exactly what I am doing in Morocco, covering over 500 km a day across three days in this car. The itinerary, which begins in Marrakech and charts a course through the Atlas Mountains’ remotest parts while making a detour through the dunes of the Sahara before finally heading back to Casablanca, is designed for car geeks like me to not only enjoy the performance of the SUV across different terrains but also to appreciate the interiors for the design and technology featured.

Let me set a bit of context for you as I drive. This upgraded AMG version of Mercedes-Benz’s flagship full-size SUV is now the designated head of the AMG SUV family. The new model offers many enhancements to an already heavily kitted predecessor and, according to the manufacturer, has further improved drive dynamics (more on that later).

While the GLS silhouette is instantly recognisable with its muscular yet refined lines, the AMG front grille, with the added AMG logo replacing the three-pointed star, is truly a standout. This new version comes with redesigned rear LED lights and an AMG projected light on the ground every time you open the door, which is a nice touch.