AMG is the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz and it's a brand that has never been backward at coming forward.

It cars offer the kind of performance and luxury that many of us can only dream of.

These come in pretty much equal measure if a blast around the marvellous Goodwood racing circuit near Chichester in Sussex is anything to go by.

There was a wide selection of the very special cars to try, from the scorching 360bhp A45 AMG hatch to the SL63 AMG two seat convertible.

And while I would have liked to try a couple out on the local roads as well as the circuit, they all showed their prowess in no uncertain terms, with the most amazing acceleration matched by superb handling and grip.

The A45 is powered by a 2.0 litre turbo engine with an amazing 360bhp. That would have been unheard of in a road car just a few years ago, and gives the superhot hatch a zero to 60 miles an hour time of an astonishing 4.6 seconds.

That's up there with the likes of Porsche and way ahead of any similar hatchback and this one costs from £38,195.

Yet the five door five seater does this with a reasonably comfortable ride, even though the handling and roadholding are easily good enough for circuit track days.

In fact, it feels more comfortable than the standard 1.6 turbo A-class, which seems very strange indeed.

Next I thoroughly enjoyed the E63 AMG estate, which is quicker than any gargantuan estate has a right to be.

It's big enough to swallow half a cricket team and all their gear without breaking sweat, but with power from a twin turbo version of the company's 5.5 litre V8, driving the rear wheels through a seven speed twin clutch automatic that makes the changes quicker than Lewis Hamilton on a good day, acceleration is almost unbelievable.

And there are no less than four stovepipe exhausts coming out of the back to make sure EVERYONE knows you're coming!

The sound alone is worth the eyewatering £76,000 price tag but again, despite its family friendly shape, this behemoth is easily quick enough for track day fun.

Chuck out the kids schoolbags and mouldering rugby boots and those black bags that were supposed to be going to the charity shop, and it will haul itself to 62 even quicker than the A45 - 4.5 seconds is all it takes!!

But then, that marvellous V8 under the bonnet is kicking out a shade under 550bhp, and it has enough low speed grunt to pull tractors out of the mud!

AMG stands for sporting pedigree, and although it is now part of the Mercedes family, its cars still shout their pace and exclusivity from every pore.