MBs answer to the BMW M3 CSL & F360 CS?

[Zafiro]

Upon a recent visit to Affalterbach I learned that AMG has a performance kit available for the SLK 55. The kit is made by AMG. It is 100% original AMG design and parts and only available through AMG-GbmH. It includes AMG headers, revised air-intake and re-programmed ECU. Its cost is about 11,000 euros and is only available to European customers. This kit will boost horsepower to 400 HP. I own an SLK 55 in the states and after driving this test vehicle I can tell you that the AMG modifications make a huge difference. This car feels much faster than a stock SLK 55 and E 55.

From the pictures you will notice the extensive use on carbon fiber. Interior (Doors and instrument cluster). Exterior (Mirrors and front brake cooling ducts). Also notice how AMG has replaced the standard shift buttons on the steering wheel with F1 style paddle shifters and the AMG racing seats. AMG also reprograms the transmission. AMG does away with the comfort mode. This vehicle has Sport1 mode, Sport 2 mode and Manual mode. They clam the shifts in the sport 2 mode are 50% quicker that the normal AMG Speedshift. I can personally attest that the shifts are crazy fast. They would not share performance specifications but the car feels like it could do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and the quarter mile in the low 12’s. The interior modifications are extra and not included with the performance kit

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=125312

 

[mrnet_01]

AMG is working hard

 

[Nicholai_AMG]

lolll!!! looks great! I think the shifters are strange designed!!

what are those rims???' don't like the chrome!

 

[LaArtist]

Wow this is gr8 they should do these CSL type cars atleast for the SLK and SL to begin with..very interesting..to say the least..

 

[Ahmed]

Looks neat, Our dealer here installs the Komperessor kit from the V8 Kompressor engines. But since this thing is from AMG Gmbh. Its great.

However I still wanna see a SLK DTM. that would be extremely cool.

 

[Merc1]

It appears that here in the U.S. we get the same package minus the engine modifications. I saw one of these on a MB lot recently was like "what the hell", I want one of these!

M

 

[Alx]

AMG is working hard

About time, getting their asses kicked, Renntech, and Kleemann!

 

[Merc1]

About time, getting their asses kicked, Renntech, and Kleemann!

And don't forget the Grandaddy of them all - Brabus.

M

 

[Alx]

Exactly!!! Many times i though why do i have to upgrade thru Kleemann, when i rather have it done with AMG, but there is no option.

AMG really needs to step it up...

 

[Deutsch]

AMG really needs to step it up...

Agreed.

Merc1, which performance pack AMG car did you see? There are several models available w/ the package.

 

[wltsm]

This SLK looks great, although I prefer the rims on the normal SLK to these ones!

This car must be really fast, could this upgrade be because of the Z4 M?

 

[Mr. Chigga_Chan]

AMG seems to have become less personalized since it has been absorbed by MB. You would think you could just go get some AMG exhaust, headers, ECU etc: like other tuners...instead of just getting an AMG car or a package through the dealer. This is a good direction for them, and if there is one car to work on overall driving dynamics, its the SLK

I personally want to see a "light-weight" SL63 AMG...but light being a relative term since the car is heavier than the E-Class

 

[Deutsch]

AMG seems to have become less personalized since it has been absorbed by MB. You would think you could just go get some AMG exhaust, headers, ECU etc: like other tuners...instead of just getting an AMG car or a package through the dealer. This is a good direction for them, and if there is one car to work on overall driving dynamics, its the SLK

I personally want to see a "light-weight" SL63 AMG...but light being a relative term since the car is heavier than the E-Class

I think AMG should work more on exclusivity and making it's cars more performance oriented in the way of driving dynamics. It's almost as if they ignore chassis controls completely and stick a big engine under the hood, along w/ a few cosmetic enhancements and slap an /////AMG badge on the rear. Again, not to toot BMW's horn becasue i'm a BMW fan, M develops cars as their own entity from the very begininig of the development phase, the chassis and every other bit of the car is heavily scrutinized by M engineers. They know their customers want exclusive high performance cars, not just a warmed over version of the std. model. I know AMG can do a lot better than what they have been And this special edt. euro only SLK55 proves that they can do just that.

 

[Mr. Chigga_Chan]

Thats a good point, AMG involvement seems to come too late in the vehicle developement and construction process, after the car is almost completely finished. If they had more of a part in design of their own vehicles like ///M they could do more with suspension, handling and weight, but I guess thats all up to the overall MB heads.

 

[Merc1]

I've been thinking about AMG and the direction they should take. This special package for the SLK is a step in the right direction.

I think a manual tranny in the C/CLK and especially SLK AMG models would do a great deal for their appeal.

AMG needs to jazz up the interior too. Some of the low-tone (not the bright stuff) from designo would help. Exotic leathers and woods, for not much more money would go a long way towards distinction imo.

Lastly AMG should offer a more hard core package as an option on all of their cars this side of the S/CL cars, they're too big and heavy to be anything but GT cars in truth so they don't need a "Ring" package inspired by a racetrack they'll likely never see.

M

 

[Merc1]

I think AMG should work more on exclusivity and making it's cars more performance oriented in the way of driving dynamics. It's almost as if they ignore chassis controls completely and stick a big engine under the hood, along w/ a few cosmetic enhancements and slap an /////AMG badge on the rear. Again, not to toot BMW's horn becasue i'm a BMW fan, M develops cars as their own entity from the very begininig of the development phase, the chassis and every other bit of the car is heavily scrutinized by M engineers. They know their customers want exclusive high performance cars, not just a warmed over version of the std. model. I know AMG can do a lot better than what they have been And this special edt. euro only SLK55 proves that they can do just that.

Ah! Therein lies the big difference between Mercedes and BMW. BMW cars are from the start sportier than Mercedes' cars. That and the desire that MB/AMG has to AMGerize everything limits what AMG can do to truly showcase their talents. BMW won't do a M7 or M-X5 or a M version of their upcoming R-Class competitor.

BMW's Motorsport engineers can be heard from day one on a new 5-Series or 3-Series because their imput would only make the base car sportier - something a true BMW fan would gladly welcome.

Mercedes on the other hand is more about comfort/ride and thus really can't use AMG's imput from the start, but...but here is the solution. AMG should be involved from day one on things like engine placement, weight distrubution and engine design for the "regular" models. Those things wouldn't hurt a "regular" Mercedes one bit. AMG should also should have a bigger say in the "Sport" packages that Mercedes offers on cars like the C-Class. There is no reason why a C-Class like the C350 Sport can't drive like a 330i Sport with AMG developing the "sport" package from day one. AMG can be involved with the development of a new Mercedes from the start, but only in certain areas. Motorsport imo could be involved in every aspect of development of a new BMW because a BMW is about sport anyway.

As always Mercedes' job is harder by design and their one ideology about what a car should be, which isn't about sport nearly as much as BMW. A similar situation exists with Audi too imo, especially considering their tuner arms have to work with an even more compromised platform to begin with.

M

 

[RikfromBelgium]

After AMG stated they will use more and more NA engine's, with some kind of high revving concept, they're now losing weight.

Friends, welcome to the BMW way of life, I welcome you