Benz unveils road-ready R63 AMG

MERCEDES-Benz has revealed the first photos of its production-ready R-class AMG, which closely resembles the Vision R63 AMG concept shown at the September Frankfurt motor show.

The AMG-tweaked R63 will follow the standard R-class people-mover (or "Grand Sports Tourer", as Benz prefers to call it) on sale in Australia in the second quarter of 2006 - with short and long-wheelbase versions likely.

While the R-class been given an AMG bodykit and 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, no details are presently available on likely AMG engines for the R-class. But it's expected to employ a version of the show car's tweaked 6.3-litre V8, which develops 375kW/630Nm.

The AMG additions are initially confined to re-profiled bumpers with larger air intakes in the front bumper and chrome-ringed foglights and High Intensity Discharge headlights.

Two diagonal struts and two horizontal louvres in the front apron give the R-Class an even broader, lower-slung appearance.

At the back the AMG cues continue with a black inlay and chromed scratch protection on the bumper lip in brushed stainless steel.