First look: CLK road racer revealed

DAIMLERCHRYSLER has unveiled its fastest and most powerful CLK variant yet.

Capable of an electronically governed 320km/h, the DTM AMG emulates the racing version of the 2003 German Touring Car Masters (DTM)-winning Mercedes-Benz CLK driven by Bernd Schneider.

The company will build 100 of the left-hand drive, two-seater CLK DTM AMG – which hits the 0-100km/h mark in 3.9 seconds – for a late-2004 delivery to its European customers. No prices have been announced.

Power is by a modified version of the SL55 AMG’s supercharged 5.5-litre V8 that develops 428kW of power at 6100rpm and 800Nm of torque from 3500rpm.

For this application the crankcase, pistons, valve train, cooling system, intake duct, supercharger and exhaust have been altered.

So, too, have aspects of the undercarriage, which include new spring and shock absorber units with adjustable coil springs, a locking multiple-disc limited slip differential on a redesigned rear axle, reinforced drive shafts and uniball joints on both axles. The latter replace rubber elements for improved driver control.

Drive is channelled to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddle controls.

Exterior tweaks to the common CLK include a deeper front spoiler with larger cooling air inlets, flared wheel arch extensions housing 19-inch front and 20-inch rear AMG light-alloy wheels, a “diffuser-look” blistered rear wheel arch section and a big boot spoiler. Much of this is CFRP (carbon-fibre reinforced) material.

To better cope with the extra performance, Mercedes’ ASR Acceleration Skid Control and ESP Electronic Stability Program driving aids have been recalibrated, while AMG provides composite brakes with six-piston (front) and four-piston (rear) callipers.

The DTM car has also inspired the AMG CFRP sports seats with four-point safety belts, suede steering wheel and 360km/h-marked speedometer, while a starter button and CFRP door panels and instrumentation cluster also add to the competition-racer effect.

DaimlerChrysler says the CLK DTM AMG meets all of its production car standards of safety, quality, durability and practicality, even though it is hand-built as a joint project between Mercedes-AMG GmbH and touring car racing team H.W.A. GmbH.