This year, Mercedes-Benz is marking the 40th birthday of its AMG in-haus performance specialists. To celebrate, the Benz sport tuners have just released the official F1 Safety car based on MB’s CLK Coupe. For those of us without racetrack privileges, the CLK63 AMG Black Series is a street-legal, high-performance variant of the F1 Safety car.
Outfitted with a 500-horsepower 6.3-liter V-8, the Black Series CLK will run from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds and top out at 186 miles per hour (electronically limited for those of us with lead feet). The Black Series model stand outs thanks to its carbon fiber flares and larger staggered-width wheels and tires. The chassis features an adjustable suspension that allows the driver to control the car’s ride height. Additionally, the compression and rebound characteristics of the shock absorbers can be electronically controlled by the driver. ASR traction control and ESP stability control are also specially calibrated for more intense track driving.
MERCEDES-BENZ CLK63 AMG BLACK SERIES MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT
“Street” Version of F1™ Safety Car Helps Celebrate 40 Years of AMG
NEW YORK – The Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series is making its global debut at the New York International Auto Show, open to the public April 6-15, 2007 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. Teamed with the CL65 AMG 40th Anniversary edition (a larger coupe also being unveiled in New York), the CLK63 AMG Black Series coupe celebrates 40 years of AMG high-performance cars.
The CLK63 Black Series is a street legal version of the Official F1™ Safety Car, which borrows design and technology from the Formula One racing world. For starters, the Black Series is a 500 horsepower version of the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine, with 0-60 mph acceleration of 4.1 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph.
The new Black Series model can be easily identified by its carbon-fiber flared fenders that are filled with larger, staggered-width wheels and tires. New AMG forged aluminum wheels (9 x 19 front, 9.5 x 19 rear) are shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa sports tires (265 / 30 R 19 front, 285 / 30 R 19 rear). Larger vented and perforated composite disc brakes can be seen through the AMG wheels; front discs are 14.2 inches in diameter, with 13.0-inch discs at the rear.
Also obvious from the outside is a new front apron with carbon cooling air intakes under the front bumper and lateral air outlets in the front fenders, which feeds extra air to a larger radiator and a second transmission oil cooler. Redesigned side skirts under the doors lead to its flared rear fenders and a new rear apron with carbon-fiber air diffuser fins.
High-performance parts from the F1 Safety Car include an AMG sports exhaust, a limited-slip rear differential and a separate oil cooler for the rear final drive, which uses a thermostatically controlled cooling fan to limit temperature peaks. On the trunk lid, a carbon-fiber spoiler airflow helps reduce aerodynamic lift forces at high speed.
Black Series Features Adjustable Suspension
The chassis of the CLK63 AMG Black Series features adjustable suspension with new spring links, wheel carriers, thrust arms and camber and torque struts. For driving on the track, technicians can adjust the car’s ride height and also the compression and rebound characteristics of the shock dampers, as well as camber and toe-in. An extra measure of chassis stiffness during hard cornering is provided by strut braces in the engine compartment and trunk. Additionally, its ASR traction control and ESP stability control systems are specially calibrated for the demands of more intense track driving.
More Power from the AMG V8
The Black Series engine comes with completely redesigned intake and exhaust systems. Larger intake ducts, a new AMG sport exhaust with full-length twin pipes and a recalibrated engine control unit provides even swifter throttle response, not to mention its 500-horsepower.
The Black Series model is powered by the first engine designed totally by AMG. One of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8s ever, the new engine boasts a wealth of features derived from AMG’s highly successful racing heritage. Built almost completely from a high-strength silicon-aluminum alloy, the 6.3-liter V8 features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, bucket followers (rather than rocker arms) and a variable intake manifold. The engine shares no parts with Mercedes-Benz V8 engines. A first for a production engine, the cylinder bores feature a twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating, a new process that results in impressively low friction and running surfaces that are twice as hard as conventional cast-iron cylinders.
Its seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT transmission is coupled to a rear final drive that’s about six percent “shorter” for more responsive acceleration. The automatic transmission has Manual and Sport driving programs (the comfort-oriented Comfort mode isn’t included), and drivers can shift between the seven gears using aluminum shift paddles on the 14.1 inch DTM style leather steering wheel. In the Manual mode, shift times are about 20 percent faster than in Sport, with no automatic downshifting or upshifting under full load and kickdown. Only an upshift icon on the AMG main menu in the dash signals recommended gear changes.
A High-Performance Interior
The F1-inspired design and technology of the CLK63 AMG Black Series is carried through to its high-tech interior. This dedicated two-seater sports touring car not only dispenses with rear seats, but its bucket-type seats, rich carbon fiber interior trim and black headliner also underscore the purposeful look of a true race car. The new AMG front seats are covered in nappa leather with embroidered silver AMG logos.
Its new AMG sport steering wheel is more than a half inch (15 mm) smaller and comes with aluminum shift paddles. Carbon fiber trim on the center console and instrument cluster (also stamped with AMG logos), underscore the car’s competition roots. A specially contoured Aluminum shift lever and a new engine “start-stop” button add further touches.
All we need is a Lexus GS coupe with a LF-A engine and we got something to compete against the CLK 63 :thumbup:
joyriide
04-05-07, 02:37 PM
Is this me or does this completely blow away everything else... Stylin wise... I LOVE IT...
Anyone know more or less an estimate of the MSRP of this type of vehicle.
JessePS
04-05-07, 02:43 PM
I wonder if they will make an SLK 63 or SLK 65 which would be insane to see, like that that dude from U.A.E did (put in an SLR engine)
INHOCJP
04-05-07, 02:45 PM
Just beautiful.
STIG
04-05-07, 02:52 PM
When MB gets it right, they really hit the nail.
Love it!
tmf2004
04-05-07, 02:55 PM
Nice looking MB... :thumbup: BTW what does DTM mean?
Hameed
04-05-07, 03:26 PM
Just amazing looking and awesome performance to boot! :thumbup:
I love the CF details, the small steering wheel and the wheel arches look very well integrated into the design of the car.
Interesting point about manual shifting being 20% faster than auto mode.... These days autos are faster, but perhaps that is only the F1 style transmissions on Ferraris.
mkorsu
04-05-07, 03:34 PM
Nice looking MB... :thumbup: BTW what does DTM mean?
Duetsche Tourenwagon Masters
basically, German production sedan racing.
Nextourer
04-05-07, 03:42 PM
what is this? It's not black at all!?! What a rip! hahaha j/k.
I love the interior and the F1-style steering wheel. The aluminium shifter is a nice design too. Is the CF panel on the door real? If so, dang, that's hella expensive.
Are the seats clothed in Alcantara? It doesn't look like leather to me.
marshmallo
04-05-07, 03:43 PM
Another great looking design :thumbup:
Coco-bun
04-05-07, 04:08 PM
i like it, but am i the only one that thinks those wheel arches are hideous?
rsantiago
04-05-07, 04:15 PM
I love it, truly served justice to the lines of the W209 :D :D those wheel arches are pure sex. :eek2: :eek2:
1SICKLEX
04-05-07, 04:18 PM
Love it! Love it! Love it! Love it!!!
BTW.....Did I mention that I Love it!!!
:p
+1. Now that is an aggresive, good looking coupe. I can rock this. I love it as well.:woot: :woot:
Stage3
04-05-07, 04:18 PM
For some reason, I expected to see a black car. Anyhow, I like this... Looks hot!
XeroK00L
04-05-07, 04:21 PM
Looks aggressive as hell yet classy at the same time.:thumbup::thumbup:
Love the wheel arches. Lexus should take note on how they integrate the front brake vents as well as adding wheel arches in both front and REAR.
newr
04-05-07, 04:58 PM
WOW... :thumbup:
Xeeeeeem
04-05-07, 05:05 PM
they nailed it! A+
joonsta
04-05-07, 05:09 PM
My IS can take it down.
thetopdog
04-05-07, 06:28 PM
I guess I'm the only one that doesn't really like it, I was a big fan of the first gen CLK but the new one doesn't do anything for me
Gojirra99
04-05-07, 06:36 PM
Looks real nice, this is much better than the regular CLK :)
Mr Johnson
04-05-07, 06:54 PM
Very, very nice!
*checks his wallet*
:cry:
Hartawan
04-05-07, 10:52 PM
OH MY... =O. Beautiful inside and out!
1SICKLEX
04-05-07, 11:30 PM
This car is so hot its not even funny
Lubs
04-06-07, 01:31 AM
Beautiful. It's aggressive, but I find it tastefully aggressive.
Is it just me, or is this late on the product cycle for this Black Series? Or is this one of those end-of-model-life defibrillator boosts to churn out a few more sales. Not that I care, I like it.
AM1
04-06-07, 02:33 AM
funny i thought i saw an CL 63 AMG on a trasnport truck on a local freeway last week sometime. maybe i was mistaken?
Koma
04-06-07, 06:13 AM
All we need is a Lexus GS coupe with a LF-A engine and we got something to compete against the CLK 63 :thumbup:
I believe the CLK is more of a IS competitor. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it's in the same realm as M3, IS-F and RS4 than they just took the cake for HP war.
JessePS
04-06-07, 06:36 AM
I believe the CLK is more of a IS competitor. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it's in the same realm as M3, IS-F and RS4 than they just took the cake for HP war.
I thought the C-class as a IS competitor?! Seeing the C-class does have coupe's and stuff.
If so guess no need for a GS coupe lol
IS_Mine
04-06-07, 07:48 AM
Wow. This CLK just blew all of its competition out of the water. But, it is a gorgeous car. I'd love to have one! However I'm sure the price will blow you away. Haha.
Richie
04-06-07, 08:05 AM
Thats a really good looking benz!!
I'd rock it.
jwong77
04-06-07, 01:27 PM
I believe the CLK is more of a IS competitor. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it's in the same realm as M3, IS-F and RS4 than they just took the cake for HP war.
I've heard the price tag on this thing is north of 100,000. So its probably not going to compete with those models.
XeroK00L
04-06-07, 01:39 PM
I believe the CLK is more of a IS competitor. Correct me if I'm wrong. If it's in the same realm as M3, IS-F and RS4 than they just took the cake for HP war.The CLK is basically a C-Class coupe, so yes, in a way, it's in the same class as the IS, BUT since MB decides to dress it up and charges a lot more than say a comparable 3-series coupe, the CLK is somehow on a higher ground than the 3-series and its competitors. It's a shame that they're gonna detune the engine in the upcoming C63 (rumored to be 450hp) as it is positioned at a lower level than the CLK63. It could've gotten the same 500hp as the CLK63 just as well.
marshmallo
04-06-07, 02:33 PM
Can't wait to see pictures of one of these in black.
It will look killer and yes, I agree that it blows away anything in
this class.
The CLK is basically a C-Class coupe, so yes, in a way, it's in the same class as the IS, BUT since MB decides to dress it up and charges a lot more than say a comparable 3-series coupe, the CLK is somehow on a higher ground than the 3-series and its competitors. It's a shame that they're gonna detune the engine in the upcoming C63 (rumored to be 450hp) as it is positioned at a lower level than the CLK63. It could've gotten the same 500hp as the CLK63 just as well.
CLK interior is more E-Class based than the C-Class.
I think Benz needs to consider an E63 AMG Black Series as well modern version of the classic 500E.
1QWKGS4
04-10-07, 01:30 AM
OMG!!! :eek2: This car is Badass!! :eek2: Can you Say move over everyone - AMG has just blowned away all other competitors... This maybe very well my next car!!
I thought I saw a review in C&D or Automobile of a DTM Merc a while ago - it must have been the older model.
The previous model car was not an M3 competitor - it was way beyond an M3, as it was lightened (compared to the regular model) and cost north of $100K (although I don't remember the exact figure).
Let's hope that this one is going to be under $100K...
Shinobi-X
04-11-07, 01:07 PM
The car looks absolutley gorgeous, aggressive yet tasteful. The interior is very nice as well, sophisticated looking and ready for business.
TopSCecreT
04-12-07, 12:31 AM
wow
first benz that made me say holy **** that is awesome!!!!