Mercedes-AMG Will Teach You To Drive on Ice Near Santa's Home

Is 2023 ending with no chance of getting close to Santa's home in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland? Fret not; Mercedes-AMG has an idea. The marque created a comprehensive program that allows anyone with some spare cash lying around to develop impressive driving skills – on ice!

Some of the available vehicles are the A 45 S, the C 63 S E Performance, the GT 63 S 4-door, the SL 63, and the GT 63 Coupe. As you may have expected, considering the playing field, all the cars included in the program are all-wheel drive (4Matic+).

Mercedes-AMG took into consideration that some participants may be more experienced than others. So, it has put together four training levels. If you want to enjoy the maximum amount of fun, there's no avoiding the intermediate stage.

However, if you can afford to spend more time and money in Europe, starting from the bottom and working your way up would be a good idea. That's how you can enjoy every vehicle available and become a true expert in handling hundreds of horsepower on slippery surfaces.

The Affalterbach-based company is organizing a:

• three-day Level 1 training course in February;
• four-day Level 1 training course in February and March;
• three-day Level 2 training course in February that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi";
• four-day Level 2 training course in January, February, and March that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi" and an in-depth analysis based on recorded data and video;
• five-day Level 2 training course in January, February, and March that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi," an in-depth analysis based on recorded data and video, and a competition between participants;
• five-day Level 3 training course in January, February, and March that ups the ante and includes all the above plus a team rally;
• five-day Level 4 training course that gives each participant an individual crew, solo access to the AMG Ice Taxi, and all the other perks.

Participants will also be treated to accommodation at luxurious four-star hotels, special dinners, and exclusive beverages.

Mercedes-AMG makes things even more interesting with the four-day G-Class Winter Expedition. Besides driving the iconic SUV through snow and on ice, participants will also drive on breathtaking routes, sleep in the world's most well-known ice hotel (literally "The Icehotel"), and experience a snowmobile run in pitch-black darkness. If you're extra lucky, maybe the aurora borealis will make that night even more memorable.

No matter what you choose, Mercedes-AMG promises to put professionals in charge of your experience. They will ensure everything goes smoothly.

The training courses happen on Lake Galtisjaure, near Arjeplog. That's just 306 miles away from Santa's home in Rovaniemi, Finland. After you learn to master powerful V8-powered cars and plug-in hybrids sporting F1-inspired tech, one or two days in Santa's village may just put the cherry on the cake.

But all this exquisite fun doesn't come cheap. For example, Mercedes-AMG charges €9,390 ($10,311) for the G-Class Winter Expedition.

The cheapest experience is the three-day Level 1 adventure on the 24-inch thick frozen lake that boasts a track mimicking Nurburgring's North Look (aka the old Nordschleife). That'll set you back €2,090 ($2,295). Add an extra €1,000, and the three-day experience turns into a four-day incursion into Sweden's northern territory.

The Level 2 training course starts from €3,690 ($4,050), while the Level 3 event will set you back over €10,000 ($10,977). The complete package costs €12,490 ($13,710), but you become a racing driver with a complete team for five days.

No matter what you choose, Mercedes-AMG thought of a great schedule for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of taming internal combustion engine-powered beasts on snow and ice.