Loudmouths

More power is never enough.

These Germans can be rather unpredictable, it must be said. On the one hand, in typical German fashion, they build some of the finest, most understated and least conspicuous saloons on the planet "" the BMW 3 Series, the Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Then, as if they've suddenly drunk something from Dr Jekyll's personal stash, they go and build some of the wildest, loudest and most bonkers saloons on the planet "" based on these very cars.

The BMW M3 you've just read about slugs it out with two other cars in the 'Mine's bigger' category "" the Audi RS4 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Audi threw the first punch in 2005, with the RS4.

At that time, the older M3 was the benchmark, with a ripping 6-cylinder engine, massaged to perfection by the boys in the M division.

The RS4 altered the stakes as soon as it snarled onto the scene; its 4.2 litre V8 added two extra cylinders over the M3, and its peak power figure of 414 bhp, combined with 43 kgm of torque, comprehensively out-speeded the M3. It looked much more... well, vicious too, unlike the M3, which could still be mistaken for a 3 Series saloon; there was no way you could confuse an RS4 with a plain A4.

On the boil, the RS4 was a visceral machine, willing to rev all the way to 8250 rpm and on to a limited top speed of 250 kph. The latest version of the renowned quattro four-wheel-drive system was on offer, with a standard torque split of 40:60 (front/rear), making for even more adjustable cornering behaviour. The interiors were special too, with one of the best steering wheels you could hope to grip.

Although M3 fans scoffed, there was no doubt that the game had indeed moved forward. Production of the RS4 has been stopped, but don't fret "" a new one will be developed to go with the latest A4, and you'll perhaps be able to order one in India.

Mercedes-Benz was the last to get into the fray, but what a punch they've thrown! The new C63 AMG has engine specifications that have already started pummeling the M3s and RS4s of the world.

A road-going version of the DTM-spec C-Class, the C63 has a 6.3 litre V8 engine, with an eye-watering 457 bhp and a frankly ludicrous 60 kgm of torque. This one's a screamer as well, revving all the way to 7200 rpm and hitting an electronically-governed top speed of 250 kph.

The 0-100 kph run is dismissed in 4.5 seconds, and Mercedes' proprietary 7G-Tronic gearbox does duty in this missile too, changing gears in fractions of a millisecond to ensure the car stays in the correct rev range.

The party trick, however, is the automatic throttle-blipping function during downshifts, which greatly enhances the emotional experience of driving, reduces the load-change responses and helps to brake before bends, particularly on a race track.

The C63 is probably the coolest-looking AMG ever, with its two big power domes, as well as the trademark AMG radiator grille "" absolutely no mistaking this for a plain-vanilla C-Class either.

Both these cars can be soon yours for the taking in India, if your pockets are deep enough "" and you're nutty enough. Go on, then, make that call!