Mercedes Cracking new AMG Racecar

Just when you thought that the 460kW Mercedes SLR McLaren was the Mercedes supercar to own this decade, along comes the manic CLK DTM AMG.

Apart from being one of the automotive industry's longest acronyms, the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG - to give it the full billing - is also one very specialised road going racecar, of which only 100 will be built to celebrate the CLK's success in the German Touring Car Masters.

With its wide stance and low-slung posture, large air intakes, striking wheel arches, diffuser-look rear apron and an imposing rear wing, the high-performance AMG newcomer gives off a powerful aura, even when it’s standing still.

The new-look Mercedes is amazing - the flared wheel arches give it a wider track (and better grip), and if you look closely you'll see the wheel arches have air intakes, which help to cool the massive composite brakes.

It's low ride height will ensure that the majority of these high-speed coupes will only ever be driven on the Nürburgring or other racetracks around Europe - speed bumps are suicide in this four wheeler.

Likely to be a particularly nefarious thorn in the side of BMW's M3 CSL, the new two-door AMG is powered by an intercooled, supercharged 5.5-litre V8.

The AMG-fettled mill generates a whopping 690Nm of torque @ 2000rpm. Rev the blown V8 a little harder and 800Nm of torque arrives @ 3500rpm.

With a 7000rpm redline, the CLK DTM AMG's engine churns out 434kW @ 6100rpm, creating a power-packing 2500rpm+ powerband.

All told, the aggressively styled Merc will hit 100km/h from standstill in just 3.9 seconds, and then on to 200km/h in 10.9 seconds.

Interestingly, the powerful new Merc won't be limited to the de rigueur 250km/h, but 300km/h instead, or 186mph in the old money. A lowering of the guard by Mercedes, or a calculated ploy to create an über-special collectors car?

The new AMG gets a number of upgrades over other model's, including:

• The crankcase from the SL 55 AMG power unit has been further strengthened

• The pistons are forged and made of a special material boasting extreme temperature and pressure-resistant properties

• The exhaust camshafts have extended valve opening times, which improves the fuel supply to the combustion chambers; in conjunction with the new fan-type exhaust pipes and the new sports exhaust system, exhaust gas backpressure is significantly reduced

• Optimised intake airflow leads to better air throughput in the cylinder heads

• The higher-revving screw-type supercharger raises charge pressure from 0.8 bar to 0.85 bar (12.3 psi)

• The engine electronics have been adapted to the unit’s upgraded performance characteristics.

• Optimised charge air and engine oil cooling

The cooling system of the supercharged eight-cylinder power unit has been optimised over the 'standard' 368kW job, with the water-cooled intercooler fitted with additional radiators integrated into the front apron, which help to even out temperature peaks.

Cutting-edge exhaust technology, including two primary and two main catalytic converters, ensure that the CLK DTM AMG easily meets all emissions limits currently specified by law, as well as fulfilling the EU4 standard due to come into force in 2005.

In addition to the 62-litre fuel tank fitted in the standard road-going CLK, the AMG Coupe is fitted with a 30-litre auxiliary tank above the rear axle.

The battery and windscreen washing system have been relocated to the luggage compartment, helping – in tandem with other measures – to create a favourable weight distribution of 54:46 percent (front /rear axle).

The 2004 model Mercedes has a significant number of body components made from the ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced material (CFRP) to improve braking, cornering and acceleration (by way of reduced weight).

The massive rear wing, meanwhile, generates downforce at high speeds, which further improves directional stability and road adhesion. For example, when the car is travelling at 200km/h, downforce of 36 kilograms is exerted on the rear axle.

Changing gears in the new DTM-themed sportscar happens by way of an AMG five-speed automatic transmission.

It can be operated using paddles mounted on the AMG racing wheel, and the German car makers reckons that the extremely short shift times "help to ensure undiluted driving pleasures for drivers with dynamic inclinations".

A short dab of the gearshift paddles is all it takes to change gear – up with the right hand, down with the left. The driver can see the gear currently engaged on a display in the AMG instrument cluster. The CLK DTM AMG can also be driven in fully automatic mode.

Other goodies exclusive to the CLK DTM AMG include a new AMG instrument cluster, attractively styled and clearly laid out, featuring a 360km/h dial and an integrated LED rev counter.

A total of 64 light-emitting diodes display the engine speed, their colour changing from white to red when the driver approaches the 7000rpm redline. The gear change required at this time is also indicated.

These two displays are joined by a series of instruments – set in carbon-fibre composite – which show the coolant, transmission and engine oil temperature, fuel supply and gear currently engaged and thus also serve as a reliable source of information for the driver.

Constructed in CFRP, the centre console stands out with totally new styling. In front of the close-at-hand selector lever are the engine starter button and four rocker switches for functions including the shift program, ESP, anti-theft alarm and trip computer.

Inside the cockpit and the CFRP AMG sports bucket seats have leather trim and team up with the four-point safety belts. The sports pedals and AMG racing steering wheel offer optimum control over the vehicle, whilst the oval, powerfully formed steering wheel rim is trimmed in high-grip (and sweat absorbent) suede.

Braking is taken care of by massive 360 x 32mm composite discs and six-piston fixed calipers up front, while 330 x 26mm discs and four-pot fixed calipers adorn the rear axle. The 'sports' tyres (available as an option) for the CLK DTM AMG open the door to cornering speeds normally only possible in racing cars, with transverse acceleration calculated at 1.35 g.

The rubber that envelops the 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy rims is made by Dunlop – 255/35R 19 tyres are fitted on nine-inch-wide rims at the front axle, 285/30R 20 tyres combine with 10-inch wide rims at the rear, all of which sit flush with the car's aggressive aero bodywork and provide a snug fit inside the wheel arches.

AMG's vast reserves of motorsport expertise are equally as evident in the chassis set-up of the CLK DTM AMG as they are in the powertrain. Height-adjustable spring and shock absorber units with adjustable coil springs replace the conventional coil spring/shock absorber units in the standard CLK, allowing the vehicle height to be adjusted extremely precisely.

The rear axle is fitted with totally new spring links and strengthened hub carriers, resulting in improved traction and optimised durability. A harder setting for the rear-axle anti-roll bar cuts the car's roll angle through fast corners and all the chassis' rubber elements have been strengthened.

The dampers are attached to the body by means of uniball elements. A trusted feature of modern racing cars, this technology allows particularly precise handling and reinforced drive shafts have been fitted in response to the car's increased power.

If there are still those asking themselves why Mercedes-Benz decided to build this car when it already has the SLR and many other AMG-badged barnstormers, one need look no further than the marque's German Touring Car Masters (DTM) form.

The exclusive AMG high-performance speedster is modelled both stylistically and technically on the car that romped away with the DTM title in 2003.

Bernd Schneider drove the race-trim Mercedes-Benz CLK to the drivers' championship, and was pushed all the way by team-mate Christijan Albers. AMG-Mercedes had previously topped the team standings in 2002 and 2003, also with the CLK. Last year, the impressive Coupe celebrated victory in nine out of the ten races on the calendar, ensuring that Mercedes-Benz also won the constructors’ championship in some style.

The Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG will be built by hand as part of a close co-operation 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.

So there you have it. After years of dominating Germany's premier touring car racing class, the automaker simply decided to make it official with a very rare, very fast and incredibly good looking race replica.