Benz debuts 'hot' F1 safety car for the streets

The Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG that starred ahead of the Formula One field last year will be available as a road-going version. The motorsport-inspired coupe was unveiled at the New York auto show recently and will be known as the 63 AMG 'Black Series'.

Arguably the hottest of all the safety cars supplied by Mercedes-Benz  to the FIA for the past ten years, the 63 AMG is powered by an AMG 6.3-litre V8 with its performance boosted to 373kW/630Nm thanks to revisions to the intake and exhaust systems. By way of comparison, the 'usual' CLK 63 AMG is rated at 354kW.

The CLK Black is also faster, slightly, than the standard model, managing 0-100km in 4.3sec, and is electronically limited to 300km/h.

According to MB, the CLK 63 Black is visually and technically oriented towards the official F1 safety car, using the track version's front apron with large cooling intakes, flared wheel arches, diffusor-type rear apron and carbon-fibre airflow breakaway edge.

The CLK Black wears 19-inch AMG forged wheels and Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber, and uses an AMG high-performance brake system with composite discs. The front axle has larger 360 x 36mm brake discs which were tested in racing, says the maker. Rear brakes measure 330 x 26mm.

The CLK Black uses the AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic transmission. Compared to the standard CLK 63 AMG, the Black uses a  a rear-axle ratio about six per cent shorter which the makes says provides more agility in acceleration in all speed ranges. The transmission has only the 'M' and 'S' driving programs; the comfort-oriented 'C' is deleted.

AMG has also fitted the CLK Black with a larger main radiator and an optimized power steering cooler, as well as an additional transmission cooler built into the left front wheel arch. The engine oil cooler is located in the right wheel arch. There's also a cooler for the rear axle, as used by the AMG 63 safety car, which has an active extraction-type fan to suppress temperature peaks.

And just like the the F1 safety car, the CLK 63 Black Series also has adjustable suspension affecting ride-height, compression and rebound stages of the shock absorbers.

Compared to the standard CLK 63 AMG, the Black Series has over 75mm more track at the front axle and 66mm more at the rear. The rear axle features a multi-plate locking differential, with 30 per cent locking effect in the overrun and 10 per cent under traction, and the car's acceleration skid control ESP are calibrated to meet more intense driving demands.

The CLK 63 Black Series is a dedicated two-seater featuring bucket-style seats with embroidered AMG logo. The seats have no side airbags but are covered with a flame-resistant cloth.

The race-inspired interior also uses carbon trim on the center console and on the inner door cladding, a black headliner, aluminum door handles and matt-finish start/stop switch. The AMG performance sports steering wheel, flattened on its underside, comes with silver aluminum shift paddles.

Road racers will love the carbon-embedded AMG instrument cluster: it shows the current gear engaged, as well as an upshift recommendation in 'M' mode, or alternatively engine oil temperature or battery voltage. The unit also has a racetimer to enable the driver to determine his or her lap times on a closed course. The racetimer stores the time of the fastest lap, average and maximum speeds, and the length of the laps.

The good news is it is possible that the Black Series CLK could come Down Under. The previous CLK hottie, the race-replica CLK-DTM, was only ever built in left-hand drive, however, the CLK 63 Black Series will be built as a right hooker for the UK market.

At this stage Mercedes Benz Oz is non-commital on plans to import the model. If you want to convince the crew there, we're happy to supply their phone numbers...

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