(from Mercedes-Benz Press Release)
With its combination of state-of-the-art motorsport technology, driving
dynamics more familiar from the race-track, captivating styling features
and unrivalled exclusivity, the new Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG will set
the pulses of car enthusiasts racing that much faster. Limited to a
production run of only 100 units, this two-door masterpiece combines an
AMG 5.5-litre V8 supercharged engine developing 428 kW/582 hp, a newly
developed chassis, optionally available sports tyres and aerodynamics
optimised in the wind tunnel to deliver a truly exceptional
high-performance experience. The AMG thoroughbred accelerates from 0 to
100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, and on to an electronically governed
maximum speed of 320 km/h.
The template for the development of the new CLK DTM AMG was the racing
version of the Mercedes-Benz CLK, which Bernd Schneider drove to overall
victory in the 2003 German Touring Car Masters (DTM) race series and
which finished the season as the most successful model in the
championship. The fixtures and fittings of the CLK DTM AMG also take
their cue from its race-track sibling. Two leather-trimmed AMG sports
bucket seats with four-point safety belts ensure unbeatable lateral
support, whilst the oval AMG racing steering wheel with suede covering
and new AMG instrument cluster with 360 km/h speedometer dial bring
extra touches of motor racing allure to the interior. The first examples
of the 100-unit limited-edition series will be delivered to customers
from autumn 2004.
You need look no further than the exterior design of the new CLK DTM AMG
to find the first traces of its racing pedigree, the transfer of
high-end motorsport technology to the road given visual expression by
the low slung front apron with large cooling air inlets, striking fender
flarings, 19 and 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels and the diffusor-look
rear section with rear wing, all of which recall the head-turning
muscularity of the successful CLK racing touring cars competing in the
DTM. Added to which, a host of body components have been constructed
from the high-strength and extremely lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced
material CFRP.
Under the bonnet lurks a specially revised version of the AMG
supercharged eight-cylinder engine familiar from the SL 55 AMG,
featuring modifications to the crank-case, pistons, valve train, cooling
system, intake duct, supercharger and exhaust system. The AMG V8 engine
develops 428 kW/582 hp at 6100 rpm from its 5439-cc displacement, with
peak torque of 800 Newton metres available from 3500 rpm.
Performance comparable with a super
sports car
Boasting instant accelerator response,
impressive torque development, free-revving vivacity and an
unmistakeable V8 soundtrack, the wonderfully powerful AMG 5.5-litre
supercharged V8 at the heart of the CLK DTM AMG was born to deliver
performance characteristics normally the preserve of super sports cars.
The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h vanishes in only 3.9 seconds on the way to
an electronically governed maximum speed of 320 km/h.
The AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission injects further
doses of motor-racing magic into the new arrival. The driver changes
gear with a short dab of the steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, the
amazingly short shift times pushing back the boundaries of sporty
driving and dynamic feel.
Newly developed spring
and shock absorber units with adjustable coil springs,
plus a locking differential on the rear axle
The chassis, meanwhile, is a more than
worthy complement to the beguiling muscle of the powertrain. Already a
firm fixture on the race-track, height-adjustable spring and shock
absorber units with adjustable coil springs are also an integral feature
of the new road car. The rear axle has been redesigned to include
totally new spring links and hub carriers, as well as reinforced drive
shafts. Uniball joints on both axles replace rubber elements and imbue
the car’s driving characteristics with unrivalled precision. A
multiple-disc limited-slip differential at the rear axle ensures optimum
traction, whilst Acceleration Skid Control ASR and the Electronic
Stability Program ESP® have been adjusted to take into account the
enhanced levels of performance.
Optionally available sports tyres from
DTM motorsport partner Dunlop (225/35 R 19 at the front and 285/30 R 20
at the rear) help the car maintain unrivalled contact with the road
surface. These tyres offer particularly high levels of grip and are
fitted on multi-piece AMG light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design
(front: 9 x 19, rear: 10 x 20) which have been developed exclusively for
the CLK DTM AMG. Their visually alluring spokes are extremely effective
not only when it comes to turning heads, but also in providing
ventilation for the brakes. And the newly developed AMG high-performance
composite braking system with six-piston fixed callipers at the front
and four-piston fixed callipers at the rear can be relied on to ensure
flawless deceleration.
Functional racing-car
ambience in the interior
Once inside the CLK DTM AMG, the driver
is struck by a functional racing ambience laced with the trademark
exclusivity of AMG high-performance cars. Two leather AMG sports bucket
seats made from exceptionally lightweight CFRP and fitted with
four-point safety belts offer the two occupants optimum lateral support,
whilst the thick and oval-shaped rim of the high-grip suede-trimmed AMG
racing steering wheel helps to transmit a particularly acute feel for
the car. The door panels are made from CFRP, as are many other elements
of the interior such as the instrument cluster. The newly designed
centre console boasts a selection of eye-catching features, including
the silver-coloured selector lever surround, the starter button, four
rocker switches for auxiliary functions and a badge bearing the vehicle
number.
The racing credentials of the CLK DTM AMG have not in any way diluted
its adher-ence to the hallmark virtues shared by all Mercedes models –
practicality, durability, safety, quality and service all meet the
highest standards. The racing-inspired AMG Coupé will be built by hand
as part of a close cooperation between Mercedes-AMG GmbH and H.W.A.
GmbH. One of the most successful touring car racing teams of all time,
H.W.A. GmbH is also responsible for the development and running of the
new C-Class DTM cars. The first examples of the 100-unit limited-edition
CLK DTM AMG will be delivered to customers from autumn 2004. Mercedes-AMG
GmbH is responsible for marketing, sales and service activities relating
to the new car.
