08-06-2006
Mika Häkkinen extends his fleet: The AMG-Mercedes DTM driver drives a brand new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet. “After changing from the open Formula 1 racing car to the closed DTM saloon, the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is exactly the right car for quick trips around my home town Monte Carlo, or along the winding roads in the surrounding Maritime Alps” said the Formula 1 World Champion of 1998 and 1999. Apart from Mika Häkkinen the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya
has also chosen a CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet; his team colleague Kimi Raikkönen has driven a CLK DTM AMG Coupé since 2005.
High tech derived from motorsport, racetrack handling dynamics, eye-catching design and utmost exclusivity – the new Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is not only the choice of prominent sportsmen, but also makes the hearts of other automobile enthusiasts beat faster. With its 428 kW/582 hp powerful AMG 5.5-litre V8 compressor engine, the newly devel-oped AMG sports suspension, optionally available sports tyres and aerody-namics optimised in the wind tunnel the
CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet, which is in a limited edition of 100, delivers a su-perlative performance: The AMG high-performance sports car accelerates in only
4.0 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, the highest speed is 300 km/h (elec-tronically limited). This means that the new AMG high-performance car is the fastest open-top four-seater in the world.
The high demand for the CLK DTM AMG Coupé, which was also in a limited edition of 100 and was rapidly sold out, was the initial inspiration during the planning of the high-performance AMG Cabriolet. During development an-other model was also the most successful car in the German Touring Car Mas-ters, namely the racing version of the Mercedes-Benz CLK with which Bernd Schneider became champion in the 2003 season. The equipment of the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is also orientated on the racetrack:
AMG sports bucket seats with leather/Alcantara upholstery ensure optimal lateral support: The oval AMG racing steering wheel with suede covering and the AMG in-strument cluster with 360 km/h speedometer scale lend the interior an un-mistakable motorsport touch.
Technological transfer from motorsport
Alone the exterior design of the new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet indicates the highest performance at the level of thoroughbred racing cars and attests to the transfer of top-class technology from motorsport: the deep-drawn front apron with large air inlets, striking wheel arch flaring, 19 and 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels and the rear end in diffusor-look are reminiscent of the successful CLK racing touring cars from the German Touring Masters. Nu-merous body components are made of
the high-strength and particularly light carbon fibre composite material CRP, for example the bonnet, doors, front wings, rear wheel arches flaring, the front and rear aprons as well as the rear aerofoil.
Superlative sports car performance
Under the bonnet is the supercharged AMG eight-cylinder engine known from numerous other AMG cars but here specifically redeveloped. There are modifications to the crankcase, pistons, cooling system, intake tract, super-charger and exhaust system. A 5439 cubic centimetres displacement pro-vides the AMG V8 with a maximum performance of 428 kW/582 hp at 6100 rpm, and the maximum torque of 800 Newton metres is available at 3500 rpm. Instant response to accelerator pedal movements,
powerful torque increase, exhilarating response and the unique V8 sound are the particular strengths of the AMG 5.5-litre V8 compressor engine which provides the new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet with the performance of superlative sports cars. From 0 to 100 km/h requires only 4.0 seconds and the maximum speed is 300 km/h (elec-tronically limited). No other open-top four-seater series production car achieves this. Racing feeling is also provided by the power transmission by means of the
AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission: the five gears are changed by a brief pull of the AMG shift paddles on the steer-ing wheel, the extremely short response times enable a particularly sporty and direct driving experience.
Newly developed adjustable suspension system and differential lock on rear axle
The suspension is also fully appropriate for the high-performance engine. It is a height-adjustable torsion suspension system such as is used in motor racing. The rear axle has been redesigned with completely new spring links and wheel carriers as well as reinforced drive shafts. Uni-ball joints on both axles have replaced the rubber elements to provide extremely precise han-dling. Optional traction is ensured by a multiple-disc limited-slip differential on the rear axle. The acceleration
skid control ASR and the Electronic Sta-bility Program (ESP®) have been adapted for the increased performance potential.
Optional Dunlop sports tyres for particularly good grip
Contact to the road surface is provided by optionally available sports tyres from DTM motorsport partner Dunlop; the dimensions are 255/35 R 19 (front) and 285/30 R 20 (rear). These tyres have a particularly good grip and are fitted on multi-piece AMG light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design in the sizes 8.5 by 19 or 10 by 20. With their filigree spokes they are not only strikingly attractive, but also ensure an effective brake ventilation. Perfect deceleration is also ensured
by the newly developed AMG high-performance composite brake system with six-piston fixed-brake callipers at the front and four-piston fixed brake callipers at the rear.
Functional racing atmosphere in the interior
The interior of the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is characterised by a functional motor racing atmosphere with the astute exclusivity of a genuine AMG high performance car. AMG sports bucket seats of ultra-light CRP with leather /Alcantara upholstery provide the occupants with outstanding lateral support. The AMG sports steering wheel with its oval rim is covered in high-grip suede and gives the driver an excellent feel for the vehicle. The door linings, trim parts and other interior components
are also of CRP. The redesigned centre console has a striking silver-coloured
selector lever unit, starter button and four rocker switches for auxiliary func-tions.
Despite potential racetrack performance the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet has all the virtues typical of any Mercedes model: everyday suitability, durability, safety, quality and standards of service for the most demanding require-ments. Since May 2006 the first of the hand-built CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet, which is in a limited edition of 100, have been supplied to customers. The price in Germany is 277,820 euros (incl. 16% VAT). Prospective customers should not delay because the limited edition
is almost sold out.
Text and photos courtesy of Daimler Chrysler AG
