LA Auto Show highlights - Mercedes ML63 AMG

Can a 518bhp SUV look subtle? Just about, if the Mercedes ML63 AMG is anything to go by.

The twin-turbocharged V8 monster has all of the usual adornments – huge alloys, deep air intakes and sideskirts – and yet it still manages to look as understated as a huge SUV can.

The show car's white paint job might have something to do with this, mind you. That 518bhp figure is just a starting point, you understand; tick the box for AMG's Performance pack and the motor will be retuned up to 550bhp and 560lb ft of torque. That trims 0.1sec off the standard car's 0-62mph time (4.8sec).

It'll be interesting to see how the AMG-tuned chassis copes with the extra power; the latest M-Class offers a more relaxed and refined alternative to the BMW X5, but it's not as agile in standard trim.

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