Fantastically supportive and multi-adjustable AMG sport seats can easily accommodate either freeway cruising or back road flogging. There's Nappa leather throughout the interior that's also neatly applied to the AMG sport steering wheel with new shift paddles.

An AMG logo on a convertible and palm trees, quite the recipe for happiness.

Additional AMG exclusives are the driver's instrument cluster with Racetimer and AMG aluminum trim.

Even though driving enthusiasts may ask, "Where's the stick?" the AMG-tuned 7G-Tronic seven-speed manuamatic transmission is perfectly suited to the CLK 63 AMG's velvet hammer personality.

Upshifts are lighting quick, with slight pauses between gears to catch its breath. Unlike other manumatics, unfortunately 7G-Tronic won't match revs when you're downshifting, even when you use the paddle shifters.

California canyon running
Although the CLK 63 AMG's Racetimer function allows the driver to tally a fastest lap, average and maximum speeds, and the length of the laps on a closed course, it would have been superfluous to use while tackling the 16-kilometre round trip up and down the twisty Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs.

The AMG-tuned suspension was comfy on the freeway ride here, and now buttoned-down tight for Chino's tight, undulating curves. The 225/40 R18 front, 255/35 R18 rear Pirelli P Zero tires gripped well despite the Mercedes' 1,850 kg curb weight.

If there is contradiction to the CLK 63 AMG's otherwise overtly sportiness in its driving dynamics, it's in the steering department.

Slow to turn-in, the Mercedes' steering doesn't send much info back to the driver as to what's going on at road level.

Twenty-four-seven power
The AMG engine distinguishes the CLK not only by its numbers, but also by its steam train-like personality. And the convertible aspect only adds to the glamour that comes with driving a Mercedes in these parts of the California desert.

On the road, the CLK's steering can't match the heroic engine and suspension.