Mercedes-Benz has decided to begin to market its SLR McLaren super sports car in the form of a roadster with a top. In common with Formula 1 vehicles of today, it, too, will be made of carbon-fiber, a material that will endow the vehicle with a very high degree of safety as well as extreme torsional stiffness at the same high level as the coupe version.
This gives rise, in combination with the racing-type chassis, to outstanding ride characteristics. The top speed of the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, which is powered by an AMG V8 compressor engine delivering 617 bhp, is 206 mph, therefore at the same high level as the coupe.
The brand new Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG is another dream car that has joined the AMG model range. The powerful AMG 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine familiar from the S65 AMG and SL65 AMG twelve-cylinder models delivers a completely impressive driving experience in the exclusive high-performance coupe. Its maximum output of 612 bhp and maximum torque of 738 lb-ft are reflected in its outstanding performance data: the CL65 AMG attains 62 mph in 4.4 seconds and reaches the 124-mph mark in 13.3 seconds. Its maximum speed is 155 mph.
The Mercedes C-class has long labored in the shadow of BMW’s 3-series, a wistful also-ran in the entry luxury-sports-sedan sweepstakes. To be fair, corporate wistfulness has been tempered by frequent bank deposits. Over the course of its long history, Mercedes is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its entry-level sedan this year, the company has produced and sold some six million of them.