It’s been exactly two weeks since my day out on track with Mercedes-Benz but my recollection of the session is still as fresh as the flowers of spring. Why wait exactly two weeks you may ask. Simply because this was my second time experiencing Mercedes-Benz’s Driving Event at Hampton Downs and as a seasoned rookie, Mercedes always put on a good show for us so my piece had to be equally up to the task!
With such an exciting day ahead of us, the normally tardy duo, made up of Harry and I were just over an hour early to this event. As such, it was an extraordinary day already! The two of us spent our time sipping on coffees while watching the last of the winter rains douse the track, producing a seriously wet spectacle as highlighted by the photo below. With no signs of the rains easing, we set off for the lunchroom to begin our afternoon session, still being late somehow!
As with the last event, lunch kicks off the session followed by a presentation bringing us up to speed with everything happening at Mercedes and then we’re let loose around Hampton Downs to put a range of cars through a series of challenges. That’s a lot to take in and our hearty lunch made sure we were all up to the task. A spread featuring roast chicken, lamb, salads, rotis & cheesecake was laid out for us, all of which was tackled with the same zest as a C63 AMG going around the circuit.
Once fueled up, we sat through a presentation about all that’s new with the Tri-Star brand. ‘Luxury, Dynamics and Safety’ are still very much at the brand’s core as they expand their range of sub-brands. G-Class and Mercedes Benz Electric (formerly EQ) join the existing lineup of Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach. We also learnt that something like 27.9 million kilometres have been driven by Mercedes-Benz cars during the development phases, further refining their MB Intelligent Drive. Just like EQ has evolved into Mercedes-Benz Electric, Mercedes Me Connect has taken on a new life as the brand’s Digital Extras offering. That being said, we were now keen to sample the brand’s offerings through the various challenges that had been set for us!
Split into groups based on our lanyard colours, Harry and I joined our instructor Chels as we were to take on Hampton Downs from behind the wheel of a selection of Mercedes’ before progressing onto the AMGs! The array of cars available included everything from the likes of the GLC43 AMG coupe, nimble GLB35 AMG to the blistering quick EQS electric sedan, the latter’s four wheel steering being extremely helpful on track! We also got to try out the new EQB 250+ and I was also reacquainted with my old friend, the very same CLE300 coupe that I had reviewed some months ago. Safe to say that it’s better suited to being a luxury cruiser rather than a track day vehicle.
To cap off this session, we got to put a Jurassic era V8 powered GLE63 S AMG through its paces around the circuit. Have to say that while it may be nose heavy and all, there’s still something quite special about an AMG V8. While the GLE63 was the only car on track with an engine larger than a 2 litre four pot, it was not the most powerful nor the quickest, that was still to come!
Yes, the most powerful and fastest car of the day was yet to come but first, we could sample some of the latest from the ‘haus’ of Mercedes-AMG. The new GLC63S AMG was up first and probably one of the biggest surprises of the day, quick and very sharp in the corners, it impressed both of us! Up next was the GLA45 AMG, a noticeable step up from the 35 AMG car. Then came the big fish.
The new C63S E AMG with its 2L turbo four pot and EV powertrain put out a whopping 671hp, making it the fastest and most powerful car on offer during the day. Its powertrain made very light work of the 150kph speed limit imposed on our session. While the V8 essence is missing, there’s no doubt that this car is faster and handles better too with the weight distribution being more favourable now! Once Harry and I had put the C63 through its paces, an instructor took us for a hot lap and tested our respective abilities to keep our lunches down. After a good shake up like that, the best thing for us to do was to slow right down and reset.
Fittingly so, our next activity helped us to slow down but not quite reset as we took the wheel of a dressed up G63 AMG, normally a native of the city’s high streets rather than the marshes of an off-road course! While the G-Class has a certain go-anywhere type durability to it, it’s a difficult picture to imagine, especially when our car had 22 inch wheels and an interior that featured oodles of carbon fibre and red leather. Don’t be dissuaded by its appearance though, this G63 still traversed small hills, slippery mud, clay, ruts, water and even a tilting challenge without breaking a sweat. Rather, it was I, the driver who was sweating upon the sight of going off-road with those big wheels on!
A special shout-out to our instructor Maxim here who was an absolute legend when it came to driving the course and letting us go crazy with filming the G63 doing its thing!
After covering most of the G63 in mud, we were then picked up by a luxurious EQS 450 SUV and taken to the skidpad. There, an instructor took us around the course laterally, our heads going from side to side as he drew a figure 8 on the wet tarmac. During the last event, we the participants were allowed to try our hand at all-wheel drive drifting too, something which wasn’t quite the case this time as I suspect someone had gone a little too sideways previously!
As Harry & I collected our parting gifts and settled in for the long drive home, we lamented on the day gone by. Mercedes had put together a comprehensive series of events, allowing us to get familiar with their vehicles’ strengths while developing our own! After being quietly nervous during my first day out with Mercedes in 2023, I can safely say that the second time certainly was the charm, becoming far more comfortable whether it be on track or off-road. In saying that, the cars have gone through marked improvements between then and now so perhaps some wishful thinking on my part!
Thanks for reading! For more Mercedes Benz News and Reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
A special thank you to Jennifer Neil from Mercedes-Benz New Zealand.
Words and some photos by Matthew D’Souza. Other photos by Harry De Souza.
