Sharp Focus — Mercedes C63 AMG
Nearly 15 years ago, I picked up a Mercedes C63 AMG to evaluate the first official product from the newly formed collaboration of tuner and racecar builder AMG and the formerly stoic Mercedes-Benz. I liked that car a lot. Not just for its straight-ahead acceleration, but its athletic and nimble behavior.

I was less enthusiastic about the next generation C55 AMG. Sure, the big V8 let out an impressive growl and would smoke its tires at will when the traction control was switched off. But the sedan seemed nose heavy and preferred the straight road to exhibit its prowess, much like the hot rods we created years ago with a simple engine swap.

So I viewed the new C63 AMG with skepticism. Here was an even larger displacement V8 in the new C-Class sedan, a combination that was sure to be fast but not necessarily quick on its feet. And I had a great opportunity to test the newest AMG creation on the Autobahn and over some of Germany’s great twisting roads.

Following the Frankfurt Auto Show’s press days, I traveled to Mainz, Germany where I was introduced to the C63. Just parked at the curb, the car is stunning, with custom bodywork that includes twin sculptures in the lightweight hood that are reminiscent of the famous 300SL model. At the rear, black air diffuser fins separate the four signature exhaust pipes.

Inside the cabin it’s all business, with metal accents and precision AMG gauges. Special AMG sport seats have contrasting cross piping and logos stitched into the soft leather. Despite its serious demeanor, the well-equipped C63 is surprisingly comfortable for a car with this kind of performance potential.

When I entered the Autobahn, I quickly found a couple of heavy-footed drivers in the left lane. When traffic thinned a bit, it was time for some fun. The BMW 3 Series in front of me moved to the right at 210 km and I accelerated by as if he had hit the brakes. The C63’s top speed was limited to 250 km (155 mph) and I discovered that this car can reach that number without breathing hard.

I left the Autobahn for some great roads through the forest on my way to a lovely chateau for lunch. With all the suspension and traction switches in normal settings, the C63 delivers tight, controlled performance right up to the limits that the average amateur driver will push his shiny new Mercedes-Benz. The big V8 will rev up to 7,500 rpm, but with most of its prodigious torque available at 2,000 rpm, there’s little need to wind the engine that tight.

Unlike its C55 predecessor, this sports sedan really loves picking a line through a tight turn. The three-stage stability program can be switched to sport for a bit of drifting before intervention, or completely off for those with a stout heart and deep pockets. The seven-speed automatic can also be programmed for sport shifting, so that a flick of the left paddle blips the throttle on downshifts, while upshift time is cut in half.

The new C63 AMG will face powerful rivals from BMW and Audi along with a new challenger from Lexus. All will offer similar sport sedans with big V8 power and I’ll make it my duty to readers to test each competitor. Until then, I don’t know how it can get much better than the C63. — Brian Douglas

Specifications

Type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive

Engine: 6.8-liter, DOHC V8

Horsepower: 475 @ 6,800 rpm

Torque: 443 foot-pounds @ 5,000 rpm


Rah Rah Rugby
The IRB World Sevens Series International Rugby Tournament returns to San Diego February 9-10 at Petco Park for the fifth annual USA Sevens, part of the IRB World Seven Series International rugby event featuring the national teams from 16 rugby nations playing in 44 matches. "USA Sevens’ return is another of the many world-class sporting events we’ve been fortunate to host here in America’s Finest City," says Mayor Jerry Sanders. "It’s another example of Petco Park paying dividends for our community." Played on the same size field as traditional 15-a-side rugby, sevens rugby is played with only seven players per team, which lays the foundation for non-stop action, thrilling attacks, and game-saving tackles. Tickets are priced from $25 to seats priced at $215 that include a variety of hospitality options. Two-day tickets are $50-$400. Discounted ticket offers are available for military and youth. (619/795-5005, www.usasevens.com)
— Jane Shiomi


Boat Bonanza
The San Diego Boat Show returns to the San Diego Convention Center and Marriott Marina on January 3-6. The most complete and largest in-water and convention show in Southern California, this event offers something for the entire family with over 300 boats and yachts, free boating and sailing lessons, an interactive kid’s area, live music, and Twiggy, the water-skiing squirrel. The 18th annual San Diego Boat Show costs $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 12 to 16, and children under 12 are free. (858/274-9924, www.sandiegoboatshow.com) — Jane Shiomi

Cowon Q5W

Torrents On The Go
If you need your movies and video files on the go, there’s the iPod Video. But if you want to download movies on the go, you’ll need this puppy, the Cowon Q5W, which recently hit the stores in the states. The WiFi-enabled portable media player with Bluetooth applications comprises a five-inch 800 x 400 touchscreen with codecs already installed, including XviD and DivX (necessary for BitTorrent files that are so popular with online downloaders these days). It also includes the open source Ogg, and even a favorite audio codec of those who download MP3s from third-party sites, flac, along with all the other usual suspects. Specs are pretty small at 5.46 x 3.48 x 0.79 inches. Throw in a camera, voice recorder, and a remote control and the $550 price tag doesn’t seem too off for the 40-gig model; the 60-gig model will run you $600. (www.cowonamerica.com)


Portege M700

Finger Tapping Good
It’s all touchscreen nowadays, and Toshiba’s newest Portege M700 steps it up by eliminating the need for a stylus (still very common with tablets) and letting your fingers do the work — it even includes a fingerprint reader. It’s got a 12.1-inch LCD screen with LED backlighting and an antiglare coating. Unlike Toshiba’s earlier versions, this one comes with a built-in Webcam, spill-resistant keyboard, 160 gigs of memory, accelerometer-based HDD protection, and all the latest bells and whistles including a DVD player. Users can opt for the Windows Vista model for $1,450, or the XP model for $1,700. (www.toshibadirect.com)


Nokia Eco Sensor

Calling All Greenies
The green machine keeps snowballing, and now it’s made its way into cell phones. While the concept may seem a bit silly, there is sure to be a market for Nokia’s new Eco Sensor phone, which will try to woo environmentalists with its sensors that monitor your health, environment, and local weather through technologies like Near Field Communication and Radio Frequency Identification. To call it a phone is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually consists of two parts: a wearable mobile phone with a giant display and a remote sensing unit that you can either strap to your wrist or attach to your body however you can manage, the idea being that the sensor communicates information to your phone for you to view — data like heart rate, air quality, UV levels, location, etcetera. Alternative energy sources, such as solar power, will fuel the sensor unit’s power usage. And the display screen will light up with a process called electrowetting — applying electrical voltages to tiny drops of oil. When compressed under the display glass, expanding droplets produce an effect similar to a pixel "lighting up," whereas contracting droplets can be compared to a pixel "turning off." There is no pricing yet becuase Nokia plans to debut the product at the International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas this month from January 7-10. (www.nokia.com) — Ryan Thomas
 
 


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