Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Geneva: Carlsson C25

German tuner has a go at making a full-blown model

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German tuning house Carlsson has turned its hand to a full-on bespoke model for the first time with this, the C25.

The C25 is still broadly based on an SL65 AMG, but gets unique, fully carbon fibre bodywork - only the windscreen is carried over from the SL. Things are more recognisably SL inside, with the basic dash architecture coming more or less straight from the Mercedes, but most surfaces have been heavily and expensively retrimmed.

A lot of work has gone on under the bonnet too, with the bi-turbo 6.0-litre V12 now pushing out 772bhp and 850lb ft - figures that are 168bhp and 113lb ft up on the SL65.

It's enough to push the (ungoverned) top speed to 220mph, at which point the underbody aerodynamics produce no lift at all.

Each C25 will be extensively tailored to suit the tastes of its owner, and Carlsson is permitting just one example to be sold in each country. A total build run of 25 is planned, with the factory capable of producing around eight cars per year.

If the small production run makes the C25 a pretty rarefied beast, then the price is only going to add to the car's exclusivity - to get your hands on one you're going to have to part with £390k before local taxes.

[Lakelord]

Who re-trimmed the interior? Stevie Wonder?

[peteA]

Different...a bit...

Too expensive....grille looks like it from a Vectra? Rear lights remind me of Noble somehow...? Interior...er, No.

I always wonder who buys these cars - will this be any better than a top of the line SL + at the price its up against much better (?), much more exotic competition. What will the residuals be like?

[paynter17]

blondies arse interior

[teen_cerbera]

Im thinking this car would look a world better with a black/silver interior and in Matte Black...

[Dagnut]

Why would you release you first model with a black bonnet with an orange stripe..then upholster the interior with tan and yellow..who thought that was a good idea....baffled that no one at calrson had the balls to pipe up and say "you know what that looks fking terrible"...maybe they have one of those MD's that everyone fears and just agrees with and he's picks the trim?...and he lost his eyes in a fishing accident?

[vz-r_dave]

This is one of those where the photos do it no justice at all. I dont like the colours of the interior though. I think all black would be better.

[Amizade]

vile.....but bet it sounds nice

Edited by Amizade on Wednesday 3rd March 08:47

[SpyderPig]

Fast yes, but ....... otherwise HIDEOUS!

[turbo-ww]

If you look closely at the interior shot (I know, why would you?) it seems to be trying to mirror the stripe on the outside.

The passenger seat has no yellow insert. Wierd.

[lionrampant]

It starts off so well: carbon fibre body, ramped up power output... then you actually look at it.

[soad]

turbo-ww said:

If you look closely at the interior shot (I know, why would you?) it seems to be trying to mirror the stripe on the outside.

The passenger seat has no yellow insert. Wierd.

Yes, i noticed that too.

Don't like the colour scheme, it's almost trying too much. Can't argue with the bhp output though.

[vdubbin]

As a demo of what the company can do it's fine, not to my taste, but it does highlight the fact that it's COMPLETELY CUSTOMIZABLE to your own specs, which is the whole point, Shirley?

[pits]

I don't mind that, not overly offensive agreed a mish mash of colours, but I still think brown will come back into fashion, the only thing I cant really get over, maybe it's the stripe, but it looks like a bit Monaro-ish, like the Bathurst VXR8 meats the Monaro VXR-8.

I will reserve proper judgment till it I see one that isn't multicoloured, but the only 25 will be built, one per country puts me off straight away (if I had that sort of money) As chances are they will be all Lambo and say
"We are only making 25......Then maybe 25 more of a folding hard top convertible"

[wab172uk]

peteA said:

I always wonder who buys these cars?

Very rich car collectors. It'll hardly ever be driven, and just shoved in a very impresive yet expensive garage, along with the owners Enzo, Carerr GT, Veyron etc.

[E21_Ross]

there are lots of people complaining about the colours, shirley if you read the post, it says it will tailor to suit the customer, so you can have it whatever colour scheme you want. the interior is absolutely lovely, just not in those colours. again, it seems they will tailor this to your liking too. so what's the problem? a car which looks lovely IMO (excluding the colours on show) and has a lot of power. what's not to like?

i thought most people on ph would like cars with V12 engines, massive power outputs and so on, but most just seem to comment on the colour. what's that all about?

Edited by E21_Ross on Wednesday 3rd March 12:46

[Quattronaut]

"Carlsson is permitting just one example to be sold in each country"

Permitting? That seems extremely unlikely...

'Yes I know you have a suitcase ready here in front of me with £390k in it, but Dubai's one has already gone. Maybe sir would consider moving to Albania? Their's is still inexplicably up for grabs'

[soad]

E21_Ross said:

i thought most people on ph would like cars with V12 engines, massive power outputs and so on, but most just seem to comment on the colour. what's that all about?

I'm all for it, but end of the day, any car can be taken to a tuner.

2010 Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG Black Series looks far better. All imho, of course. Has more than enough bhp too.

[Kazlet]

Much better than the AMG black but the awful colour scheme inside and out ruins what is probably a good car.

[alexpa]

Yuk. That's nasty

[I WISH]

What a mess.

"What colour shall we do the interior? ...... I know ..... yellow and brown .... lovely!"

I wonder what drugs the designer was using.