Merc Shows 518bhp SUV, Greenpeace Gives Up

Well, not quite. Though you could forgive the world's environmentalists for weeping into their wheatgrass juice over Mercedes' latest member of the AMG family. The new ML Class has had the skunkworks makeover, gaining the 5.5l biturbo V8 already seeing duty in the CLS AMG and updated E63 AMG.

As ever, the badging is a nonsense. The boot says '63', but this isn't a 6.3 litre, nor the normally aspirated 6.2 V8 of yore seen in the C63 and SLS. The all-new blown engine not only performs better in the all-important EU emissions test, but twists out 516 lb/ft of torque and 518bhp. That's Audi R8 V10 shaming muscle in a luxury SUV that's not even the full-fat version; adding the AMG Performance Pack opens the door to 550bhp, and 560lb/ft, where you'll be keeping BMW M5 drivers honest in a traffic light grand prix.

In a world where we've become spoilt by improbable performance figures, a 4.6 second 0-62 dash and 174mph flat out (though still limited) might seem fairly standard practice, even for a two-tonne family car with a seven speed auto and more leather than a Hell's Angel wardrobe.

Thankfully, the speed should come as more of a surprise to your fellow road users, since this ML has enjoyed an altogether more pleasing transformation into an AMG road rocket than its predecessor. The old ML63 featured so many bulges and creases to let on about the power within, it looked like Daniel Craig in an ill-fitting suit. The new car is still an intimidating beast, but it's less brutish, more cohesive, and given how many SUVs seem to wear obligatory 20 inch rims these days, could even be seen as subtle in the right part of town.

Coming soon to all football training grounds and suspect reality TV shows near you, see the ML63 make its début at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this week. This could be one serious contender to the Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5 M.