When you’re a Maharaja and a big car collector, it doesn’t come as a surprise if you have a couple or three powerful AMGs in your collection. That’s pretty normal. These cars deliver so much timeless appeal, spellbinding performance, a rich exhaust note, plush, comfortable cabins and space for four. Himanshu, the Maharaja of Gondal, however, has nine. NINE! That’s not it; eight of his cars have V8s under the hood. He has all sorts here. Large-capacity naturally aspirated ones, big twin turbos, and every single iteration of the 4.0 twin-turbo that still powers many of the cars.
“The Maharaja of Gondal’s love for large-capacity American V8s meant AMG automatically had an appeal.”
But why have nine AMGs? And what makes these cars so alluring for someone who can have pretty much any car? I put the question straight to Himanshu. The reply is pretty straightforward. “I bought my first AMG in 2008 – the white CLS – and I liked it so much, I kept getting more and more of them,” he explained in a matter-of-fact manner. He has all types of AMG sedans and, of course, SUVs, off-roaders, sports cars and roadsters. “My love for AMG started because of two reasons. I loved big American V8 engines, and I also had a long association and affection for Mercedes. In my younger days, I would buy what were then very affordable American V8s and modify them. I’d tune them to 300 or even 400hp with aftermarket parts.” So when AMGs appeared with 500-plus hp straight out of the box and all the comforts of a Mercedes four-door, Himanshu couldn’t really resist.
The only thing was, AMG wasn’t in India when he set out to buy his first one. He approached Mercedes, but initially, being good Germans, they said no. The problem was the fuel. Mercedes and AMG couldn’t guarantee the performance of the CLS 63 AMG on our fuel, so Himanshu had to sign an indemnity before buying the car, one that said the performance wasn’t guaranteed. The car, much to his delight, turned out to be the perfect blend of raw performance, friendly handling and comfort. “This was a car I could really enjoy driving, and I could even take my parents and friends in it.” Getting behind the wheel of the CLS later, I also realise there’s something special about this engine: the long, lusty pulls it delivers when you put your foot down, the oily smooth manner in which it loves to rev, and the growl from the long exhaust pipes makes it sound different from some of the sports cars.
The raw performance also seems at a higher level than today, as emissions norms over the years have blunted the edge on many of these engines. I also love the manner in which it just sticks to the road and delivers so much feel from the hydraulic steering. And has any sedan or four-door looked more impactful for its time? You can also tell just how much Himanshu likes the car. Despite being one of roughly 100 cars in his collection, the CLS has more than 70,000km on the odometer.
Another favourite is the SLS, the modern-day Gullwing and the first standalone AMG model. Himanshu took delivery of the car in Mumbai and drove 760km straight to Gondal. “This is a car I bought on the spur of the moment. I was shown the car, and immediately, I said yes, one for me, please.” Often called Mercedes’ muscle car, the SLS has timeless appeal. And what was so good was that it complemented Himanshu’s red ’50s 300SL perfectly. Himanshu says he loves the fact that the rear-wheel-drive car can do slides at will, and then the doors add some real drama.
Driving this icon all these years later also reminds me just how much better cars were during this golden period. Fewer nanny electronics, more feel and flow, and a real connect with the car that elevated the driving experience. And Himanshu doesn’t have just one SLS; there’s the cabriolet as well, which allows you to enjoy the wind in your hair and hear so much more of that glorious engine.
Hopping out and getting into the even more stunning red 2017 AMG GT convertible is an exercise in contrast. Not more than a few years old, it feels more laid back and comfortable when you are not pedalling hard, and the quality upgrade on the inside is huge. Also, once the power comes in, performance is stronger and more urgent, and the gearbox is better by miles. The turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, however, is nowhere near as responsive as the SLS’ naturally aspirated 6.2; the exhaust note is relatively distant, and the whole driving experience isn’t anywhere near as dialled in or as immersive.
As Himanshu says, “They are completely different cars. The SLS gets your adrenaline pumping and is very involving; this car is great for long distances. Last year, I drove it all the way to Udaipur, the run up the long, fast ghat road – something really special.”
Of course, part of the collection is also a pair of E-Classes, cars that form the core of the AMG brand. The maroon W212 is a bit special; it’s the last rear-wheel-drive AMG E and gets the 5.5 twin turbo V8 engine that replaced the naturally aspirated 6.2 in 2011. Power is identical to the 6.2 at 525hp, and the performance is special, according to Himanshu. While this was bought some time back, the nose is of a regular E-Class due to some damage before the purchase. This will be replaced soon.
Also present is a W213 E 63 S with the 4.0 twin turbo that Himanshu often uses for long interstate runs or short trips to see the lions of Sasan Gir, which is not too far from Gondal. “It’s the perfect combination of comfort, size and pace, and I really like that it can be switched to a rear-wheel-drive mode only.”
The last three cars in the collection are all SUVs, and the GL 63 is a clear favourite. I sort of get it only after I get behind the wheel of this 5.5 twin turbo. The exhaust note, even with the turbos, is a deep baritone, and what you also get because of the long exhausts is a really evocative growl combined with a lovely, rich, high-rev blare. The biggest surprise is the amount of urge it has – there’s 800Nm of torque and an air-to-water intercooler on this engine to help manage inlet temperature, so even this massive SUV really shifts.
Himanshu also has the last ICE-only G-Wagen; no electrons involved here. And then, for running around in and around the city, there’s the GLA 35, a car we used to its full potential to help catch our flight back from Rajkot.
“We revved them, all of them together, and it was just crazy. AMG’s philharmonic orchestra.”
Finally, since we have all nine of them lined up together, we rev them together like an orchestra, revelling in the sound of air forced to exit from 68 cylinders under high pressure. The crescendo of V8s rising higher and higher with every coordinated rev, the deep rumble shaking the ground and hitting us in the chest. The AMG philharmonic orchestra; ahh, what a beautiful noise! Wonder what we’ll do in the age of electrics?
AMG’s legacy of brilliant V8s
Right from the outset, the W108 S-Class-based racing car known as the ‘Red Pig’ with its 6.8-litre V8 sort of defined AMG. Then, in the ’80s, came the W124-based Hammer, also with a V8 under the hood. So, it’s no surprise that the vast majority of engines here are V8s. The early cars, like the CLS, use the 6.2 engine known as the M156 and carry the 6.3 badge. The M156 was the first engine designed by AMG from scratch. A version of this engine, the M159, also powers cars like the SLS and SLS roadster. It had a new intake, new cams and a dry sump.
AMG has always been about V8s and the soundtrack is closely linked with the brand.Later, Mercedes introduced the twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, known as the M157, which delivered both large-capacity thrills and turbo boost in the same package. This later evolved to the smaller 4.0-litre V8 known as the M177/M178, the latter used on AMG’s GT range and even some Aston Martins. Missing in the collection here, among other V8s, is the supercharged 5.4-litre V8 of 2001, the M113 K that delivered up to 574hp and the even more powerful variant, the M155, which generated 650hp under the hood of the SLR 722.
There are three of AMGs legendary V8s here, the naturally aspirated 6.2, the twin turbo 5.5 and the 4.0 litre. A version with the M113K or supercharged 5.5 would make it a full set. Also See:
