All 9 models of Mercedes-AMG offered in the Thai market was there for us to drive at Chang International Circuit in Buriram earlier this month.
The Mercedes-AMG Driving Experience 2018 from October 13-21 consist of a training at Chang with high-powered Mercedes-AMG models under the supervision of certified instructors from Australia and Thailand.
Roland Folger, president and CEO of Mecedes-Benz (Thailand) Ltd, said, “Delivering a product that signifies our motto of ‘Driving Performance’ to every customer is always a priority for Mercedes-AMG. More than 100 press as well as 600 customers of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG will enhance their skills by learning how to properly handle sports vehicles under the close supervision of professional driving instructors and road racers.”
Sales of AMG worldwide reached 130,000 units last year, while in Thailand Mercedes-AMG sales have surged by 350 per cent during the first 9 months of this year.
The company also took the opportunity to officially launch 2 new AMG models – the E 63 S 4MATIC+ and the C 43 4MATIC Coupe, along with the Mercedes-Benz C 200 Coupe AMG Dynamic.
With a 612 hpm 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine, the Bt12.79-million E 63 S 4MATIC+ is the most powerful and fastest E-Class to date, taking only 3.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 -100km/h.
Participants of “Mercedes-AMG Driving Experience 2018” were divided into small groups and must pass 4 tests including one full-track drive. During the day, participants learned crucial skills to maneuver high-performance vehicles and join an in-depth briefing to understand innovations for performance, technologies, and engineering breakthrough featured in the vehicles.
Details of each station
“1st Station: Brake and Swerve” is designed to demonstrate braking system of Mercedes-Benz vehicles as well as other systems assisting driver when a brake pedal is being pushed down namely ESP® and ABS. It additionally tests driver’s response to road indicators or signals requiring driver to stop the vehicle. Each participant will be asked to accelerate the vehicle to 80 km/h from start line then slow down the vehicle by pushing down the brake pedal once a roadside indicator is turned on, either on the left or right, and finally avoid obstacles by veering the vehicle to the direction in which the light is turned on.
“2nd Station: ESP® Exercise” is based on a critical scenario driver may experience behind the wheel. With standees imitating pedestrians, each participant will be instructed to maneuver the vehicle during an arising incident and aware of a safer route ahead by properly using driver’s field of vision. From the speed of 80 km/h, driver must avoid obstacles on the right by accurately noticing an exit course on the left, swerve the vehicle towards a safer route indicated without applying brake, and keep steering the vehicle to finish line. Accident avoidance maneuver like this can automatically activate ESP®–a proactive safety system reducing current speed of the vehicle by 30 km/h.
“3rd Station: Motorkhana” is inspired by a type of motorsport race. Each participant must quickly finish a course full of obstacles without hitting a traffic cone, fence, etc.
“4th Station: Cornering Theory” utilizes four curves of Chang International Circuit to instruct all participants on how to effortlessly control the vehicle upon cornering. With different track width and indicators, each participant can properly practice cornering by apply specific actions as indicated such as apply brake, turn the steering wheel accordingly, or push down acceleration pedal at apex zone so the vehicle is quickly steer away from a curve.
