Formula One pace-setter unveiled
Mercedes-AMG duo will be just as noticeable as the McLaren/Ferrari brigade during this year's F1 racesGet set to see these two F1-liveried Mercedes-AMG tearaways in action this weekend as the 2008 Formula One season kicks into gear at Albert Park.
An AMG-tweaked Merc has been part of the F1 support-vehicle fleet since 1996, and last year the F1 Safety Car duties were carried out by a fettled CLK 63 AMG piloted by Bernd Mayländer (who's led the F1 pack around since 2000).
This year, Mayländer's ride will be the new SL 63 AMG, while the recently unveiled C63 AMG Estate will be the Official F1 Medical Car.
Neither is as you'd find them in a Merc showroom, as extensive mods were required to enable them to cope with the frenetic pace of an F1 weekend. Even though the Safety Car only leads the pack when there's been an accident/debris on the track/adverse weather, it still needs to be able to set a cracking pace (by road-car standards) and is built to the same specification as the SL 63 AMG Black Series (more here), as anything less would result in the F1 cars cooking their engines and losing any semblance of tyre/brake temperature.
The standard 6.2-litre V8 already pumps out a healthy 386kW (enough for a 4.6sec 0-100km/h split), but the Safety Car sports larger cooling ducts in the bespoke front fascias, in addition to extra coolers for engine, differential and transmission oil, as well as the power steering fluid.
The newly developed Speedshift MCT 7-speed sports transmission -- which shifts gear in just 100 milliseconds -- hasn't been tampered with, but there is a rear-axle differential lock with 30 percent locking effect to maximise traction in all weather conditions.
What's more, the SL Safety Car's ride height, track width and camber are adjustable, enabling the car to be tailored to the 18 different racetracks that feature in this year's F1 calendar.
The Safety Car rides on special 19-inch extra-light AMG forged, double-spoke alloys that are said to optimise cooling of the "highly stressed braking system". The stoppers themselves are ventilated composite brake discs (for maximum fade-resistance) and measure 390x36mm at the front and 360x26mm at the rear.
The car should also sound the biz, thanks to a bespoke AMG sport exhaust system with larger pipe diameter and new rear silencers that allow the "high-revving AMG naturally aspirated engine to breathe even more freely".
Crucial weight savings were reaped by removing the top-opening mechanisms and motors and stripping out all sound insulation. Further pruning was achieved by using a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic bonnet, quarter panels, bootlid and fascias.
Result? A kerb weight of 1750kg -- a hefty 220kg less than the standard vehicle.
Meanwhile, the 336kW C 63 AMG Estate Medical Car receives similar changes, except for the lighter body panels and oil and fluid coolers, as it doesn't need to be quite as fleet-footed as the Safety Car.
The Medical Car follows the race on the crash-prone first lap, then waits on the sidelines, ready to respond to emergencies. Naturally, it's equipped with all necessary emergency equipment, including a defibrillator and respirator.
All AMG Safety Cars at a glance:
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202)
1997: CLK 55 AMG (C 208)
2000: CL 55 AMG (C 215)
2001: SL 55 AMG (R 230)
2003: CLK 55 AMG (C 209)
2004: SLK 55 AMG (R 171)
2006: CLK 63 AMG (C 209)
2008: SL 63 AMG (R 230)
All AMG Medical Cars at a glance:
1996: C 36 AMG (W 202)
1997: E 60 AMG (W 212) starting with Grand Prix in Imola, Italy
1998: C 55 AMG (S 202)
2001: C 32 AMG (S 203)
2004: C 55 AMG (S 203)
2008: C 63 AMG (S 204)
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