Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series: Safety Car Replica

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/Apr/2007

New York, USA — Mercedes-Benz has a number of relationships with the motor sport world that benefit its products. Chief among them is it's Formula One campaign. Just last weekend the German car maker's team won the Malaysian GP in Sepang at the hands of Fernando Alonso, while debutant driver Lewis Hamilton came in second. It was a one-two finish for the Mercedes-McLaren race cars, and the company is keen to build on such successes.

Mercedes launched what is one of its most dedicated, highly-strung sports cars at the recent 2007 New York Motor Show, which is an out-and-out track car, designed for high speed, high-G manoeuvres. And it can be driven on the road too.

Mercedes says the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series is based on the Official F1 Safety Car, which has been providing Formula One safety since 2006. Leading a pack of V8-powered F1 race cars is no mean feat, so naturally safety cars are often high-powered sports cars that are able to set a good pace on race day.

This new model is based on the concept of the F1 Safety Car - a vehicle specially bred for the race track.

AMG Engine

Foremost is the car's engine. An AMG 6.3-litre V8 is at its core, with its performance boosted to 373kW (507hp) and 630 Newton meters of torque. Mercedes-Benz explains the new super sports CLK is technically and visually oriented towards the Official F1 Safety Car and thus addresses all sports car enthusiasts who value high competitiveness. 

With its 373kW of power @ 6800rpm - an output upgraded by 19kW (26hp) - the CLK 63 AMG Black Series accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds – and is thus 0.3 seconds faster than the standard CLK AMG 63 model with 354kW (481hp). As a further sign of the 'Black Series' intent, the the top speed has been electronically limited to 300km/h, up 50km/h from the standard 250.

Providing near instantaneous pickup, the huge 6.2-litre V8 engine has been tuned by Mercedes-AMG engineers in areas like the intake and exhaust systems which have been completely redesigned. The high-revving, naturally-aspirated AMG engine, with its 6208cc displacement, gets its fresh air via larger-dimensioned intake ducts at the front of the car. 

Furthermore, the new AMG sports exhaust system with full-length twin pipes stands out with its unmistakable AMG V8 sound. Together with a newly calibrated engine control unit (ECU), these measures ensure not only efficient load change behavior, but also let this 8-cylinder unit respond to the accelerator with even greater alacrity. As follows are the car's vital statistics:

Power: 373kW @ 6800rpm
Torque: 630Nm @ 5250rpm
0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Max Speed: 300km/h
Fuel Usage: 15.3L/100km

Ensuring the V8's 373kW is put to good use, an AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic gearbox is in service. Compared to the standard CLK 63 AMG, the rear-axle ratio of this special series has been made about six percent shorter – to confer more rapid acceleration in all speed ranges. The German car maker states - for maximum sporting dynamics - the transmission has only the “M” and “S” driving programs; the comfort-oriented “C” has been deleted. 

As well as steering wheel mounted paddle shifts to switch between gears, in the “M” manual program shift times are about 20 percent shorter than in “S” says Mercedes. Moreover, in the “M” program the driver benefits from the great tractive power of the V8, since there is no automatic downshifting under full load and kickdown; the transmission always remains in the gear selected. When the engine-speed limit is reached, the AMG Speedshift does not shift up automatically in the manual drive program – and in this way supports a dynamic driving style on the race track.

AMG Body Work

The visual appearance of the CLK 63 AMG Black Series shows its racing inspiration, from the low-to-the-ground stance, to the huge wheels and flared wheel arches. According to Mercedes, the redesigned front end is descended 1:1 from the Official F1 Safety Car, and its generously dimensioned cooling-air intakes hint at the sophisticated cooling measures. 

For greater stamina under extreme operating conditions, a larger main radiator and an optimized power steering cooler, as well as an additional transmission cooler are built into the left front wheel arch and the engine oil cooler is located in the right wheel arch. The cooling measures are complemented by optimised air ducts with lateral carbon openings in front of the front wheels. 

Mercedes has revealed the front quarter panels are made of high-strength and yet lightweight carbon-fiber composite material to reduce weight, while on their flank, a “6.3 AMG” badge hints at the exceptional power of the naturally-aspirated V8. Redesigned side skirts extend to the broad rear wheel arches, which are in turn connected by a newly developed rear apron. The components taken over from the Official F1 Safety Car include not only the carbon diffusor fins and the integrated chromed dual tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system, but also yet another cooling system for the heavily stressed rear axle. The separate oil cooler has an active extraction-type fan, which is particularly effective in suppressing temperature peaks.

AMG Chassis

Mercedes points out that, through the tracery of the 19-inch AMG forged wheels, you can catch a glimpse of the ventilated and perforated composite disc brakes. The front axle has larger 360mm x 36mm brake disks which it claims have been tested in racing environments to reduce brake fade and feel, while the brakes of the rear-axle measure 330mm x 26mm. Even when tested to the maximum on the track, Mercedes claims that the braking system always achieves perfect deceleration and enormous fade resistance.

Like its counterpart in the Formula One World Championship, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series also has a newly developed and quite special AMG sports suspension. The adjustable 'threaded' suspension guarantees optimum road contact and maximum precision. For competitive driving, the driver can create his personal suspension setup: not only the level, but also the compression and rebound stages of the shock absorbers, front-axle track and camber, and rear-axle track are adjustable. It's a true-blue racer.

Both axles have newly developed components like spring links, wheel carriers, thrust arms, camber and torque struts, as well as completely reworked elastokinematics. In short, this is one incredibly stiff vehicle that flies in the face of more traditional Mercedes vehicles that tend to lean towards comfort. 

Mercedes reveals that, compared to the standard CLK 63 AMG, the Black Series has over 75 millimeters more track at the front axle and 66 millimeters more at the rear. In other words, it's much wider than its donor car, and this can be seen in the wide wheel arches and side skirts. Added stiffness under high lateral dynamics is provided by strut braces in the engine compartment and trunk, while on the rear axle, a multi-plate locking differential ensures optimum traction with 30 percent locking effect in the overrun and 10 percent under traction.

The wheel and tyre combination used on this amazing vehicle forms a perfect partner for the AMG threaded sports suspension. Pirelli P Zero Corsa sports tyres are the treads of choice - widely recognised as some of the best multipurpose sports oriented tyres on the market - and are sized 265/30 R19 at the front and 285/30 R19 at the rear.

AMG Cockpit

Mercedes-Benz and it's performance partner AMG have also modified the interior of this high-performance V8 sports coupe. The car dispenses with rear seats to ensuring its title as a dedicated 2-seater sports touring car, using AMG bucket-type seats that come without side airbags and are covered in inflammable nylon velour with embroidered silver AMG logos. Carbon trim on the center console and on the inner door cladding is obvious, and also stamped with AMG logos. A smaller steering wheel also added - its diameter reduced by 15 millimeters - with a flat-bottom design for easier ingress and egress.

Giving the driver all the information he needs is the carbon-embedded AMG instrument cluster with its 320km/h scale. The AMG main menu in the cluster is perfectly tailored to serious racing: it shows the current gear engaged, as well as an upshift recommendation in “M” mode, or alternatively engine oil temperature or battery voltage, as well as the RaceTimer. This last function enables the driver to determine his lap times on a closed course, and it can tally things like fastest lap, average and maximum speeds, and the length of the laps.

Despite its race worthy handling, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series retains those typical qualities that distinguish a true Mercedes-Benz: everyday practicality, longevity, safety and quality. Following in the path of the SLK 55 AMG Black Series, the new CLK 63 AMG Black Series was developed in the AMG Performance Studio opened in 2006. The first units of the unlimited AMG special series will be delivered to customers starting in June 2007. And if you have to ask how much, chances are you probably can't afford one.

Related articles:
- Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2008)
- Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive (concept)
- Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition (2006)
- Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (2006)
- Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (2007)
- Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Special Series (2006)
- Mercedes-Benz CLS ART GTR 620 (2006)
- Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG (2006)