Mercedes-Benz Canada will soon be offering yet another $100,000-and-more product that will go from 0 to 100 kmh in less than five seconds.
This time it's a hotrod version of the CLS four-door sedan tuned into an autobahn rocket by the Stuttgart firm's high-performance subsidiary called the CLS55 AMG.
Customers get more than launch speed with this $125,600 sedan, of course, including nappa leather, new 19-inch alloy wheels with the AMG logo, and the chance to own something that no one else they know has.
Though it's not the only thing that's unique about the CLS55 AMG, the souped-up 5.5-litre V-8 is absolutely the main attraction. This monster delivers 469 hp and 516 lb-ft or torque, which will make the car accelerate at virtually any speed and in virtually any circumstances.
The impressive levels of juice can be ascribed to the supercharger technology that's found in the E55 AMG and SL55 AMG. A belt-driven Lysholm screw-type supercharger is located between the V-8 cylinder banks and works together with a special intercooler to ensure low-temperature, high-density intake air.
This power goes to the rear wheels through a five-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission that can be manually shifted from either the conventional shift lever or from Formula-1 style gearshift buttons on the AMG sports steering wheel.
To give performance-minded drivers total control of shifting, the manual mode of AMG Speedshift doesn't permit any automatic upshifts -- even at max engine speed -- automatic downshifts, even under full load, which presumably gives an owner a chance to ruin the car's engine if that's what he so desires. Overall, AMG Speedshift electronic control provides 35 faster gear shifts and torque converter lockup from 1st gear.
Because more than just launch is necessary in a car like this, AMG engineers developed a new sports suspension for the CLS55 AMG that's based on the Mercedes-Benz semi-active air setup. For flatter cornering, the springs, shocks and stabilizer bars are stiffer than on the CLS500, which itself just debuted in January. The CLS55 AMG air suspension includes automatic level control that maintains ride height even when the car is loaded with passengers and cargo, and the driver can also choose from three sport-comfort settings.
To deliver the most responsive kind of handling to fit all circumstances, speed-sensitive power steering ensures low steering effort for low speed maneuvers such as parallel parking, but automatically reduces the steering assist above 100 km/h to provide good road feel.
Assuming that the driver can find someplace legal to put the CLS55 AMG through its performance paces, AMG has made sure the car is able to stop without effort as well. To that end, vented and perforated disc brakes all around feature 355 mm discs and eight-piston calipers up front and 330 mm discs with four-piston calipers at the rear. Staggered 19-inch wheels with 8 1/2 and 9 1/2 inch widths carry 255/35 tires in front and 285/30 at the rear.
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| Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG (photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Customers get more than launch speed with this $125,600 sedan, of course, including nappa leather, new 19-inch alloy wheels with the AMG logo, and the chance to own something that no one else they know has.
Though it's not the only thing that's unique about the CLS55 AMG, the souped-up 5.5-litre V-8 is absolutely the main attraction. This monster delivers 469 hp and 516 lb-ft or torque, which will make the car accelerate at virtually any speed and in virtually any circumstances.
The impressive levels of juice can be ascribed to the supercharger technology that's found in the E55 AMG and SL55 AMG. A belt-driven Lysholm screw-type supercharger is located between the V-8 cylinder banks and works together with a special intercooler to ensure low-temperature, high-density intake air.
This power goes to the rear wheels through a five-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission that can be manually shifted from either the conventional shift lever or from Formula-1 style gearshift buttons on the AMG sports steering wheel.
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| Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG (photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Because more than just launch is necessary in a car like this, AMG engineers developed a new sports suspension for the CLS55 AMG that's based on the Mercedes-Benz semi-active air setup. For flatter cornering, the springs, shocks and stabilizer bars are stiffer than on the CLS500, which itself just debuted in January. The CLS55 AMG air suspension includes automatic level control that maintains ride height even when the car is loaded with passengers and cargo, and the driver can also choose from three sport-comfort settings.
To deliver the most responsive kind of handling to fit all circumstances, speed-sensitive power steering ensures low steering effort for low speed maneuvers such as parallel parking, but automatically reduces the steering assist above 100 km/h to provide good road feel.
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| Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG (photo: DaimlerChrysler) |