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How to get there from civilisation
Scotland can claim an unfair percentage of
the UK's � nest roads, but the A701 is easier
to get to than the Highland alternatives.
Take the M1, M6 and M74 towards Glasgow,
then turn right about 40 miles after Carlisle.
What's so great about it?
This is driving without distractions at its
� nest, passing through nothing more than
small villages after leaving Mo� at all the
way to the Edinburgh suburbs. It's a fast,
� owing A-road with sweeping corners
and long straights, and though it lacks the
towering peaks of the Highlands is every bit
as good as any you will � nd further north.
Any reasons to stop en route?
The Devil's Beef Tub is the evocative name
for a natural bowl in the hills about 10 miles
after Mo� at, which is often � lled with low
cloud. The pretty towns of Peebles and
West Linton are also easy diversions.
Best car to do it in?
The A701 is the perfect place to stretch
the legs of a grand tourer, so we're going
for a Maserati GranTurismo.
MOFFAT TO EDINBURGH
Total length: 47 miles
Great British Drives
fashion lifestyle
Your view of the new C63 is likely to be decided according
to which side of a fundamental divide you nd yourself
on: do you prefer to stand out or to blend in? To have
people point and stare, or to slip by unnoticed?
Determined extroverts should look elsewhere, because
if discretion is the better part of valour then the C63 S is
the bravest car on the market. There are some visual clues that this
is the über version of the C-Class, but most people will see nothing
more than a compact saloon wearing a bodykit and a set of big alloy
wheels. Yet with 510bhp - 34bhp more than the standard C63 AMG
- the 'S' model is capable of outsprinting many supercars.
Those who prefer to whisper rather than shout will like the idea of
a car that looks so ordinary yet travels so quickly. The C63 S shares the
same twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the recently launched AMG GT
sportscar; indeed, it's the same motor that will ultimately nd itself in
the next-generation Aston Martin Vantage. So there's no surprise that
it goes like a scalded cat when unleashed, with the chassis rising to the
task of keeping so much power pointed in the intended direction.
But it can be equally restrained when you want it to be. In 'Comfort'
mode, the chassis is almost as pliant as a standard C-Class, and the
well- nished cabin is a great place to spend serious time. Subtle, it is.
Best bits: Enormous performance, brilliant cabin.
Worst bits: Pricey to buy, too discreet for some.
Mike Du� is European editor for Car and Driver Magazine
MERCEDESAMG C63 S
Price: £66,730
Engine: 4.0 litre supercharged V8.
Power: 510bhp
0-62mph: 4.0 seconds
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Economy: 34.4mpg
MERCEDES�AMG C63 S
If you want to travel very quickly without standing out, this could be the best car in the world
It goes like a scalded
cat when unleashed