Palm Springs, California - Starting in downtown Los Angeles, the navigation system in the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet indicated that my punched-in destination of Palm Springs was only two hours away.

Huge brakes, specific wheels and the 6.3 (although it is a 6.2L) AMG badge let you know that you are in the presence of something special.

The nearly 180 kms straight shot east along Interstate 10 is classic Cali freeway. Slicing just south of San Bernardino and north of Riverside, America the Beautiful this is not.

Once past the city of Redlands, L.A.'s urban sprawl resorts to the more pleasant openness of the desert. At this point, the freeway dips south into the San Jacinto Valley, where hundreds of windmills mimic the Tri-Star on the CLK 63 AMG's grille.

With 475 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque from the newly-developed AMG V8 under the CLK's hood, it's questionable which generates more juice.

There's no substitute for cubic inches
Those power ratings represent 30% more horsepower and 24% more torque than last year's CLK55's 5.4-litre V8. The '07 CLK 63 AMG's new 6.2-litre unit (not 6.3 as the badge suggests), is designed from scratch by Mercedes-Benz's AMG hot-rod shop and can also be had in the Mercedes-Benz CLS, ML and R Classes.

So what else do you get for the $24,100 premium Mercedes-Benz Canada asks for over the $90,900 382 h.p., 391 lb.-ft. of torque 5.5L V8 CLK 550 Cabriolet?

Externally, in addition to the refreshed-for-'07 CLK Cabriolet bodywork, there are AMG-exclusive badges, front and rear aprons and side skirts, plus an AMG spoiler lip on the trunk lid.

Peeking out the back of the CLK 63 AMG you'll also find a sport exhaust with two tailpipes, and the exclusive 18-inch 5-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels are neatly stuffed under the fenders.

Off the freeway, it's time to go topless
Although Europeans get a two-door, hardtop coupe version, North Americans get the CLK with the big AMG mill only in convertible form. Eschewing the folding hardtop craze, the CLK's top is a powered, multilayer cloth affair.

With the top down, you are greeted with more bespoke AMG kit inside.

Sleek, hot and fast, the CLK 63 AMG belongs in Southern California.