The best of both worlds

MANILA, Philippines - Few carmakers in the world can elicit as much excitement with the words “test drive” as Mercedes Benz does. Fewer still can offer as much diversity in driving dynamics in a single vehicle as Mercedes Benz does. Imagine, then, being invited to drive not one but two Mercedes Benz offerings over a single weekend. We’d have been fools to let the opportunity slide.

Such was the case not too long ago when CATS Motors, exclusive distributors of the Mercedes Benz brand in the country, invited us to “Mercedescapades”, a weekend drive to Majayjay, Laguna on board various C-Class and GLK models. It was a small group, too. And it made the experience that much more special.

First off, though, we have to clarify which variants we drove. While there were a couple of base models around, we at The Philippine STAR made sure that we got behind the wheels of the more distinctive models as we had already previously written about the C180 and the C200 in articles past. The C350 AMG and the GLK Edition 1, on the other hand, we hadn’t yet featured in these pages. Until now, that is…

Schizophrenic – but in a good way

I admit. I have been a big fan of the new C-Class since it was launched internationally some two years ago in Geneva. I had driven several variants of the C-Class since that time but had not yet been able to take the high end C350 AMG around town – much more so out of town. Imagine my excitement, then, when en route to Laguna via the twisting roads of Rizal we were tasked to switch cars just as the roads were becoming more challenging – and I ended up in the C350 AMG.

The C350 AMG, with its 3.5-liter twin cam 24-valve V6 powerplant, is an absolute joy to drive. Boasting 272 hp and 350Nm of torque, it attacked roads with as much fervor as this fairly skilled driver could muster. And, this being a Mercedes Benz, it did so with as much panache as one can imagine. With enthusiasm getting the better of me, though, I flicked the switch at the car’s center console and shifted the car into sport mode. Immediately, the car’s suspension system stiffened and the steering ratio felt a lot more direct. I then fiddled with the paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel and tore through the backstreets of Antipolo with carefully tempered aggression (responsible driving, first and foremost!). Torrential rains had me holding back, true. But the adrenaline rush had me smiling my way through.

Varying driving dynamics weren’t the only notable highlights of the C350 AMG. The car, being a high-end variant, also came with all the belles and whistles that Mercedes Benz could offer – both inside and out. Deserving special mention are the body hugging leather seats with AMG highlights and the in-dash entertainment system that featured MP3 connectivity and even an onboard GPS system. Ditto the handsome 17-inch six-spoke rims. The C350 AMG can change its character with a mere flick of a switch – but either way, it’s compellingly beautiful.

Car-like indeed

The other vehicle that deserved special mention from our Mercedes Benz drive was the GLK Edition 1. Boasting a 3.0-liter, 24-valve, V6 engine that generates 231 hp and 300 Nm of torque, it ably kept up with the C350 AMG (I drove it after I drove the C350 AMG), which is understandable given the vehicle’s specs. What was much more notable, however, was how smoothly it did so. Despite being equipped with city-friendly 20-inch rims wrapped in fat 45s, it attacked the twists and turns of the provincial roads with gusto even while it provided a stupendous amount of comfort along the way.

Like the C350, it also featured a premium MP3 capable entertainment system and very comfortable leather seats that practically spoiled each and every occupant. Aluminum highlights abound inside the GLK Edition 1, and we found the subtle minimalist touch appealing, to say the least. A welcome addition to the GLK Edition 1’s interior is the COMAND interface, which allowed us easy access to several bits of information, not the least of which is the very helpful on-board mapping system that comes standard with the vehicle.

How does the GLK Edition 1 drive? Like a car made by Mercedes Benz – and then some. It’s got the entire gamut where safety features are concerned and it’s got comfort features galore. Naturally, it felt solid on the road. But what really takes the cake for me is how noticeable the five or so extra horses were able to pull the car around much more significantly (I had driven the 227 hp base model GLK before and it drove me silly, imagine how much happier I was with this one!). It is yet to be officially launched in the Philippine market, but it’s bound to make more than just a few hearts go a-flutter.