A 155mph, six-seater MPV with a 5.1-second 0-62mph time used to be an unoccupied segment of the car world's great Venn diagram of choices. From September, the Mercedes R63 AMG will fill it.

The ultimate sports version of the R-class starts a go-faster niche within a niche of luxury MPVs that think they're high-roof estates or maybe even SUVs. It will also top the R-class range, which launched in the UK in April with the R500 and R350 petrol units and the diesel 320CDI.

At £74,115, the AMG version of this 'Luxurious Touring SUV' is far from cheap. In fact, Mercedes is launching an entry-level R280CDI, only available in short wheelbase (4,922mm) that starts at half the price (£36,420) at the same time. But then again, until the likes of BMW and Audi get into gear with similar niche ranges - which are a few years away at least - the long-wheelbase-only R63 AMG simply has no direct rivals.

Full review

Source = 4Car