CHARLOTTE CASIRAGHI OR Charlotte of Monaco is one of the best looking royals on the planet.

Daughter of Princess Caroline, Charlotte is not directly in line for the throne but that does not mean she cannot live it up like William and Harry. The principality of Monaco would be the perfect setting for this car and Charlotte the ideal driver. In a land where there is an inordinate amount of Ferraris and Lamborghinis the ML 63 AMG would definitely stand out in the crowd. A stunning girl, in a stunning town along with this stunning Mercedes is a perfect match-up all round.

First off all you have to do is gaze upon the car and you want it. Trust me, you’ll see it in the car park and every time you walk up to it you’ll have that swell of pride you can only get by owning a Mercedes- especially one so distinct. All the modifications to the exterior have made this car look mean yet maintain that classic style a Merc SUV is known for. What really makes this an impact car though is when you sit inside. The premium quality yet functionality of the ML 63 AMG interior is something to behold. The new AMG sports steering wheel is distinctive; the specially moulded grip area is covered with perforated leather, and both lower steering wheel spokes feature a silver insert. New AMG aluminium switching paddles enable manual gear changing. The ML 63 AMG standard equipment includes electric adjustable AMG sports seats with Nappa leather upholstery, a multi-contour function and seat heating. The dashboard can also be clad in Nappa leather on request. In truly dynamic style, the AMG instrument panel has original lettering, red dial needles and a speedometer that indicates up to 320 km/h. The integrated main menu, unique to AMG, permanently displays the currently selected gear and indicates when to change up, and, additionally, the display of the engine oil temperature, the battery voltage or the race timer can also be selected.

The series production Audio 20 radio in the car combines user-friendly operation and logical menu navigation with quality entertainment. A hands-free car kit with Bluetooth is included as standard, and a new media interface with which to connect mobile audio devices, such as an iPod, to the audio system can be fitted in the glove box on request. With COMAND APS, also available on request, Mercedes customers can enjoy even more high-tech electronic equipment ex works. The device also includes a region-wide navigation system with data saved on a 40-GB hard drive, enabling extra fast route calculation. A music register with 4-GB memory is also included, as well as LINGUATRONIC voice control, which is known for its outstanding reliability.

The excellent interior aside, put your foot down and this is where your friends and especially you as the driver will be impressed. Developing a maximum output of 375 kW/510 hp at 6,800 rpm, the ML 63 AMG is still one of the highest performing SUVs on the market. The AMG 6.3-l V8 engine delivers superb road performance. The ML 63 AMG accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds, and has a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited). Power transmission is provided by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox with three drive programmes.

This car is definitely one for the petrolheads but can accommodate the more dainty among us equally as comfortably. The engine and speed are enough to satisfy any road demon yet combined with the luxury of the interior and the exquisite lines of the exterior, the ML 63 AMG is definitely a head turner for all. Overall a car suited to the more regal road users, enjoy!

david@khaleejtimes.com