What is it?
2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG and CLS63 AMG
What's special about it?
As much as we like the sound of AMG's modern V8s, the raw, barely muffled sound of the 1971 300 SEL racecar that drove onto the stage to begin the Mercedes-Benz press conference in Geneva stole the show. Sitting low with multiple lights clogging up the grille, the 428-horsepower sedan was one of AMG's first projects back when it was just an independent tuning shop specializing in Mercedes-Benz.
Now a fully integrated piece of Mercedes, AMG spends its time building more road cars than racecars. The 2007 CLK63 AMG coupe and cabriolet and 2007 CLS63 AMG sedan are two of its latest, following the introduction of the R63 last month and ML63 late last year.
Although the classic 300 SEL racecar was bored out to 6.8 liters, the new CLK and CLS AMG models feature a 6.3-liter V8 like the original 1968 300 SEL 6.3. It's an all-new engine designed and built by AMG. Unlike many of the engines used in previous AMGs, the new 6.3-liter V8 doesn't use a supercharger or turbos. Instead, it develops the necessary power through its larger size and higher engine speeds.
The engine's 6.3-liter displacement is equivalent to 385 cubic inches, a healthy step up from the V8s in most full-size American trucks. And with a 7,200-rpm redline, it has plenty of room to breathe. "It's what makes this engine so good, the broad band of power from start to finish," explained Jan Stotz, product manager for AMG engines.
In the CLS63, the V8 is rated to produce 507 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. The same engine in the CLK63 only develops 475 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. "This is due to a more restrictive exhaust," Stotz explained. Both cars use Mercedes' newest seven-speed automatic transmission, a combination Stotz finds ideal. "The transmission shifts quicker than the older five-speed and gives us all the flexibility we need." The results are 0-to-60 times of 4.5 seconds for the CLS63, 4.6 seconds for the CLK63 Coupe, and 4.7 seconds for the CLK63 Cabriolet.
AMG is obviously proud of its new engine, but it also prides itself on delivering a total package of performance. To keep the chassis as capable as the engine, the CLK63 gets a retuned version of its coil-spring suspension while the CLS version gets a similar tune-up for its air spring setup. Both cars use composite brakes up front for lighter weight and added performance.
A two-tone set of 18-inch wheels are used for each car. On the CLS they measure 8.5 inches in front and 9.5 inches in back, with 255/40 and 285/35 tires, respectively. On the CLK the wheels are 8.5 inches in back and 7.5 inches in front, with 255/35 and 225/40 tires, respectively.
Interior upgrades on both cars are typical AMG. The sport seats up front get special AMG stitching and Alcantara inserts. There are three shades of napa leather for the door and dash trim, a thicker sport steering wheel, AMG-spec speedometer, and AMG-labeled sill plates.
New on both cars is a race timer built into the instrument cluster. The idea is to give owners a way of timing themselves should they ever venture onto a racetrack. It provides not only lap times, but top speed, average speed and lap length. We expect the system will prove just as useless as Porsche's similarly optimistic sport-chronometer setup.
Both coupe and convertible versions of the CLK63 and the CLS63 sedan are due in showrooms this summer.
What's Edmunds' take?
AMG looks intent on putting its new engine into every Mercedes that can swallow it. Our exposure to the engine's performance has been brief, but it was enough to make AMG's plan seem like a brilliant idea. — Ed Hellwig
2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG and CLS63 AMG
What's special about it?
As much as we like the sound of AMG's modern V8s, the raw, barely muffled sound of the 1971 300 SEL racecar that drove onto the stage to begin the Mercedes-Benz press conference in Geneva stole the show. Sitting low with multiple lights clogging up the grille, the 428-horsepower sedan was one of AMG's first projects back when it was just an independent tuning shop specializing in Mercedes-Benz.
Now a fully integrated piece of Mercedes, AMG spends its time building more road cars than racecars. The 2007 CLK63 AMG coupe and cabriolet and 2007 CLS63 AMG sedan are two of its latest, following the introduction of the R63 last month and ML63 late last year.
Although the classic 300 SEL racecar was bored out to 6.8 liters, the new CLK and CLS AMG models feature a 6.3-liter V8 like the original 1968 300 SEL 6.3. It's an all-new engine designed and built by AMG. Unlike many of the engines used in previous AMGs, the new 6.3-liter V8 doesn't use a supercharger or turbos. Instead, it develops the necessary power through its larger size and higher engine speeds.
The engine's 6.3-liter displacement is equivalent to 385 cubic inches, a healthy step up from the V8s in most full-size American trucks. And with a 7,200-rpm redline, it has plenty of room to breathe. "It's what makes this engine so good, the broad band of power from start to finish," explained Jan Stotz, product manager for AMG engines.
In the CLS63, the V8 is rated to produce 507 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. The same engine in the CLK63 only develops 475 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. "This is due to a more restrictive exhaust," Stotz explained. Both cars use Mercedes' newest seven-speed automatic transmission, a combination Stotz finds ideal. "The transmission shifts quicker than the older five-speed and gives us all the flexibility we need." The results are 0-to-60 times of 4.5 seconds for the CLS63, 4.6 seconds for the CLK63 Coupe, and 4.7 seconds for the CLK63 Cabriolet.
AMG is obviously proud of its new engine, but it also prides itself on delivering a total package of performance. To keep the chassis as capable as the engine, the CLK63 gets a retuned version of its coil-spring suspension while the CLS version gets a similar tune-up for its air spring setup. Both cars use composite brakes up front for lighter weight and added performance.
A two-tone set of 18-inch wheels are used for each car. On the CLS they measure 8.5 inches in front and 9.5 inches in back, with 255/40 and 285/35 tires, respectively. On the CLK the wheels are 8.5 inches in back and 7.5 inches in front, with 255/35 and 225/40 tires, respectively.
Interior upgrades on both cars are typical AMG. The sport seats up front get special AMG stitching and Alcantara inserts. There are three shades of napa leather for the door and dash trim, a thicker sport steering wheel, AMG-spec speedometer, and AMG-labeled sill plates.
New on both cars is a race timer built into the instrument cluster. The idea is to give owners a way of timing themselves should they ever venture onto a racetrack. It provides not only lap times, but top speed, average speed and lap length. We expect the system will prove just as useless as Porsche's similarly optimistic sport-chronometer setup.
Both coupe and convertible versions of the CLK63 and the CLS63 sedan are due in showrooms this summer.
What's Edmunds' take?
AMG looks intent on putting its new engine into every Mercedes that can swallow it. Our exposure to the engine's performance has been brief, but it was enough to make AMG's plan seem like a brilliant idea. — Ed Hellwig
Add A Comment »