Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Back to the Future.  As a kid I remember watching it and thinking how cool it would be to have a car that could take you back in time.  Enter the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet, a car so fast it can reverse the space-time continuum and send you hurtling back 30 years...  Ok, so maybe it's not that fast, but it's fast enough to make time stop - even if it's just for a few seconds while you feel yourself being propelled from 0-60 in what feels like the blink of an eye.

If you're not familiar with the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet, it's a Mercedes based on Bernard Schneider's 2003 DTM Championship winning CLK, one of the German Touring Car Master's most successful cars.  The wickedly fast four-seater is powered by a 582 horsepower AMG 5.5-Liter V8.  But this isn't your momma's AMG V8, oh no.  To achieve maximum performance Mercedes has specifically reengineered the AMG engine by modifying the crankcase, pistons, valve gear, cooling, intake manifold, supercharger and exhaust system.  On top of all this, Mercedes added an AMG Speedshift five-speed automatic transmission, which uses shift paddles on the steering wheels to provide extremely short shift times.  The result?  The evil little CLK accelerates 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 185 mph (electronically limited), making this the fastest open-top four-seater in the world.

But what fun is having a mind-numbingly fast CLK if it doesn't look the part?  Mercedes agrees, and as a result, the car features numerous elements not found on a standard CLK.  The most notable of course are the redesigned flared wheel arches.  On the exterior, the car also features 19 and 20 inch AMG alloy wheels, a new front apron with large air inlets, and a diffuser-look rear end with aerofoil.  As for the interior, it also features various various race-inspired elements, including AMG sports bucket seats, an AMG sports steering wheel, and redesigned AMG instrument cluster.

Mercedes is only producing 100 CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet's, so if you're thinking about buying one, you better act quick, and have your checkbook ready.  Pricing is expected to be around $300,000.  But isn't having a car that can make time stop worth it?  I think so.

UPDATE:  When we brought you this story yesterday, Mercedes had not yet released official photographs of the new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet.  Today the official photographs have been released, and are the two exterior pictures you'll now find in this story.  We have also added interior pictures of the CLK DTM AMG Coupe, but the interior should remain the same or very similar in the Cabriolet version.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet: The World’s Fastest Open-Top Four-Seater



Frankfurt/Main, Sep 14, 2005

High technology derived from motorsport, the handling dynamism of the racetrack, a sensational visual appearance and the utmost exclusivity – the new Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is guaranteed to make the hearts of true car lovers beat faster. A limited edition of 100, the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet is capable of a fulminating performance with its 428-kW/582-hp AMG 5.5-litre, supercharged V8, a newly developed AMG sports suspension, optional sports tyres and aerodynamics refined in the wind tunnel: this high-performance AMG sports car accelerates to 100 km/h in just 4.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 300 km/h (electronically limited). This makes the new high-performance AMG Cabriolet the world’s fastest open-top four-seater.

The great demand for the CLK DTM AMG Coupé, which was likewise a limited edition of 100 and rapidly sold out, provided the initial impetus for the development of the powerful high-performance AMG Cabriolet. It was also modelled on the most successful car in the German Touring Car Masters – the racing version of the Mercedes-Benz CLK with which Bernd Schneider was able to win the DTM championship in the 2003 season. The equipment of the CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet also takes its lead from the racetrack: AMG sports bucket seats with leather/Alcantara upholstery guarantee optimal lateral support, while the buckskin-covered, oval AMG racing steering wheel and the AMG instrument cluster with its 360 km/h speedometer scale lend an unmistakable motorsport touch to the interior.

The exterior design of the new CLK DTM AMG already suggests outstanding performance at the level of thoroughbred sports cars, and demonstrates the transfer of top-class technology from the world of motor racing: a deep-drawn front apron with large air inlets, prominently flared wheel arches, 19 and 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels and the diffuser-look rear end with its aerofoil are reminiscent of the successful CLK racing tourers from the DTM. Numerous body components are made from particularly strong and lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CRP), for example the bonnet, doors, front wings, flared rear wheel arches and aerofoil.

Performance at the level of a super sports car

The Cabriolet is powered by the supercharged AMG eight-cylinder engine, which is familiar from other AMG cars but has been specifically reengineered with modifications to the crankcase, pistons, valve gear, cooling, intake manifold, supercharger and exhaust system. The AMG V8 engine generates a maximum output of 428 kW/582 hp at 6100 rpm from a displacement of 5439 cubic centimetres, while the maximum torque of 800 Newton metres is available at 3500 rpm.

Instant response to movements of the accelerator, a powerful surge of torque, exhilarating liveliness and an unmistakable V8 sound are the particular strengths of this ultra-powerful, supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 unit, which gives the new CLK DTM AMG Cabriolet the sort of performance levels found in super sports cars. the 100 km/h mark is reached from standstill in just 4.0 seconds, and the top speed is 300 km/h (electronically limited) – no other open-top four-seater in regular production can match these figures. A racing touch is also provided by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission: the five gears are changed by briefly pulling the shift paddles on the steering wheel, with extremely short shift times guaranteeing a particularly sporty and direct driving experience.

Newly developed torsion suspension, limited-slip differential

The suspension is fully the equal of the high-performance engine. In line with usual motor racing practice, a height-adjustable torsion suspension system is used. The rear axle has been redesigned with completely new spring links and wheel carriers, as well as reinforced drive shafts. The usual rubber elements are replaced by uni-ball joints on both axles to produce outstandingly precise handling. A multi-disc limited slip differential on the rear axle ensures optimal traction, while acceleration skid control (ASR) and the Electronic Stability Program ESP® have been adapted to suit the increased performance potential.

Optional Dunlop sports tyres for particularly good grip

Outstanding road contact is provided by the optional sports tyres by the DTM motorsport partner Dunlop; these size 225/35 R 19 (front) and 285/30 R 20 (rear). These tyres have particularly good grip and are fitted to multi-piece 9 x 19 and 10 x 20-inch AMG twin-spoke light-alloy wheels. These elegant spokes are not only an eye-catching feature, but also ensure effective ventilation of the brakes. Superb deceleration is provided by the newly developed AMG high-performance composite braking system with six-piston fixed callipers at the front and four-piston fixed callipers at the rear.

Functional racing atmosphere in the interior

The interior of the CLK DTM AMG is characterised by a functional motor racing atmosphere, with a judicious touch of the exclusivity expected of a genuine AMG high-performance car. AMG sports bucket seats of ultra-light CRP with leather/ Alcantara upholstery provide the occupants with outstanding lateral support, while the AMG sports steering wheel with its oval rim is covered in high-grip buckskin and gives the driver an excellent feel for the vehicle. Like the instrument cluster, the door linings and other interior components are of lightweight CRP. The silver-coloured shift gate, starter button and four rocker switches are eye-catching features on the redesigned centre console.

Despite a performance potential worthy of the racetrack, the CLK DTM AMG has all the virtues typical of any Mercedes model: everyday suitability, durability, safety, quality and standards of service to satisfy even the most demanding requirements. The fast AMG Coupé is hand-assembled in close cooperation between Mercedes-AMG GmbH and H.W.A. GmbH. The latter is one of the most successful touring car racing teams, and is also responsible for assembly and operation of the current C-Class DTM cars. The first of the limited-edition CLK DTM AMG Cabriolets will be delivered to customers during the first half of 2006. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is responsible for marketing, sales and service.

Copyright © 2005, Daimler Chrysler AG