2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series Preview Iowa

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What it Is

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series Preview - New York Auto Show: Strip a CLK63 AMG built to serve as an F1 safety car of its decals and light bar, and you've pretty much got the street-legal, 500-horsepower, track-ready Black Series. Pricing and volume were not announced at the car's debut in New York, but we'd guess this thing isn't gonna go head-to-head with a Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged. Expect a six-figure sticker and a planned build of less than 1,000 examples.

Why it Matters

With Audi, BMW, and Infiniti hogging the sport/luxury coupe headlines for 2008, proud Mercedes-Benz needed to do something to grab a headline or two. Whether it needed to create this fantastically expensive, low-volume racing machine for the road is another question entirely. But hey, we're not the only ones writing about the CLK after this stunt, are we?

What's Under the Hood

The short story is that the Black Series gets a 500-horsepower version of AMG's 6.3-liter V8 connected to a 7-speed AMG Speedshift transmission with a shorter final drive ratio and Manual or Sport shift programs (obviously, Comfort is left off the software for this model). Acceleration to 60 mph takes 4.1 seconds and top speed is 186 mph. Other goodies include larger vented and perforated composite disc brakes, strut braces under the hood and in the trunk, and a stability control system calibrated for track driving. The suspension has shocks adjustable for toe-in and camber, jounce and rebound, and height. There's a bigger radiator, a second transmission oil cooler, a limited-slip differential, and an AMG sports exhaust system. Take that, M3.

What it Looks Like

The current generation of the CLK has always struck us as innocuous and forgettable, but the CLK63 AMG Black Series is a different machine. It's got revised front and rear aprons with carbon air intakes and diffuser fins, redesigned side skirts, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. Those are the subtle changes. There's no mistaking the flared carbon fiber vented fenders, and the staggered-width wheels are also striking. These AMG forged rims measure 9 x 19 in front and 9.5 x 19 in back, and wear Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires sized 265/30R19 in front and 285/30R19 in back.