The body of a thoroughbred with the soul of a speed demon.

How do you make one of the world's greatest high-performance luxury Sport Utility Vehicle? Step one: Start with the latest generation of the most celebrated mid-size luxury SUV on the planet: the all-new 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Step two: put it in the hands of Mercedes-AMG -- the inventors of the high-performance SUV. Step three: hold on tight.

The all-new ML63 AMG produces 518 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque from its new, hand-built 5.5-liter biturbo V-8 AMG engine -- with a boost to 550 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque through the available AMG Performance Package.  In both cases, that prodigious power is harnessed by the advanced AMG SPEEDSHIFT 7-speed automatic transmission, which helps make the all-new ML63 AMG capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 4.7 or 4.6 seconds*, respectively.

While those performance figures are remarkable on their own, even more extraordinary is the efficiency with which they can be delivered. Thanks to innovations including spray-guided direct injection and an "ECO start/stop function" that shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stationary, the all-new ML63 AMG is nearly 30% more fuel efficient than its predecessor -- while increasing output by 15 horsepower and 51 lb-ft of torque in its standard configuration.

Beyond power alone, the all-new ML63 also offers the exceptionally responsive handling, outstanding ride comfort and precise road feel that defines the Mercedes-AMG approach to high performance. The rigid, unibody structure of the M-Class -- a crucial starting point for superior driving dynamics -- receives the formidable combination of the AMG sport suspension with AIRMATIC air suspension and the Adaptive Damping System, paired for the very first time with the new ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM for active roll stabilization. The result: a suspension that adapts almost instantaneously to driving conditions, both absorbing bumps effortlessly and keeping the ML63 flat through corners. Add standard, 4MATIC all-wheel-drive technology with electronic traction control, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering and an AMG high-performance braking system with ventilated and perforated brake discs at all four corners, and you've got all the ingredients of an SUV that handles just like a sports car.

At Mercedes-AMG, handcrafted performance means far more than just extraordinary power and handling. Besides exclusive AMG bodywork, the exterior of the all-new ML63 features 20" five-spoke AMG alloy wheels in a high-gloss titanium grey and two sets of twin, chrome tailpipes to help provide the distinctive sound of an AMG eight-cylinder powerplant. Inside, the craftsmanship becomes even more evident -- from the AMG power sport seats covered in double-top-stitched designo premium leather, to the AMG Performance steering wheel with perforated leather grips and aluminum shift paddles, to the exquisite leather-wrapped dashboard.

The all-new ML63 AMG is not without the lion's share of creature comforts, either. Heated and Active Ventilated Seats, PARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist and standard Premium 2 Package -- including A 14-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7® surround-sound system, and the Mercedes-Benz COMAND system with hard-drive navigation, enhanced voice control, Bluetooth® audio streaming -- are among the amenities that come as standard equipment in the luxurious but sport-minded cabin.

The fact is, attempting to create a high-performance luxury SUV that lives up to every part of that moniker is an audacious act in itself. But actually succeeding is a triumph few will ever lay claim to. Suffice to say that for the third straight time, the AMG interpretation of the legendary M-Class is as triumphant as ever.