Thursday 21st July 2011

Power By AMG, Handling By DC?

David Coulthard aims to bring a UK perspective to AMG chassis engineering

---

Mr Ambassador, you are spoiling us...

Former F1 star and current DTM pilot David Coulthard has been appointed as a 'brand ambassador' by AMG, and the popular racer wants to help the German firm set-up future models with UK roads in mind.

DC joins fellow DTM star Bernd Schneider in the AMG ambassadorial role. AMG chairman Ola Kallenius, speaking as he announced DC's adoption by the brand at AMG HQ in Affalterbach near Stuttgart yesterday, suggested that: "David can help our engineering and test teams to find that little extra twist we need to survive those difficult English B roads."

DC naturally followed up the remark by suggesting the Scottish B roads on which he learned to drive would be the bigger challenge.

Kallenius: 'UK perspective important'

The 40-year old Scottish driver has a long relationship with Mercedes-Benz - his delivery as a baby began in the back of father's Merc on the way to hospital, and his racing career has been powered by the company for many years.

PH chatted to DC briefly after the AMG announcement, and while there is no concrete plan to involve him in the road car development process yet, he confirmed he's keen to get involved as soon as is practicable.

He's also going to become an 'active partner' for AMG at customer and press events, so now could be the time to sign up for that AMG Academy 'master class'. (Especially as the fabulous SLS GT3 racer is going to be adopted by the Academy later this year...)

[Arun_D]

Coincidentally, I was watching this video of Jay Leno driving the SLS Roadster last night, and he phones up Coulthard during his drive to chat about the car. I didn't know he had any involvement at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgKOpiiUD-A

[Ali_T]

Does it have a tendency to crash at the first corner?

[BlackCup]

Yep, i think maybe crash test safety is more his forte!

[The Kraken]

I volunteer to passenger on his development drives. Those cars with a handy driver..... Should be fun

[Chicane-UK]

Hard not to be jelous of these ex-F1 drivers sometimes... they just have the most enviable lifestyle!

[nickfrog]

Interesting but those chassis are not the exactly the last word in terms of lightness, balance, traction etc... Not sure what even he can do with such platforms.

[Nick3point2]

Chicane-UK said:

Hard not to be jelous of these ex-F1 drivers sometimes... they just have the most enviable lifestyle!

what always impresses me is the variety of stuff they do: he already has DTM and BBC on his list of things to do!

[Ollieb7]

God i could save AMG a lot of money with two word advise.... Manual Gearbox!!! That would make a huge improvement over the slush boxes..

Also for a fiver ...... no weight over 1400 kg please...

For a tenner....

[sideways sid]

nickfrog said:

Interesting but those chassis are not the exactly the last word in terms of lightness, balance, traction etc... Not sure what even he can do with such platforms.

He's not doing anything with the platforms. He is a 'brand ambassador' and there are no plans to involve him in road car development.

Incidentally, this is the same DC who wrote off an AMG Merc in Monaco a couple of years ago, providing a late-night test drive for a gaggle of airline stewardesses...? Top bloke!

[alexpa]

That's because DC has so much UK road experience right?

I thought he resides in MC?

I think he's doing ok with his F1 commentary, different angle, doesn't seem too fussed and sticks to his opinion.

[Bada Bing!]

alexpa said:

That's because DC has so much UK road experience right?

I thought he resides in MC?

I think he's doing ok with his F1 commentary, different angle, doesn't seem too fussed and sticks to his opinion.

He grew up in a part of the world with some fantastic roads though.

[glm1977]

does this mean the BBC will be best buddies with the Merc F1 team rather than the Redbull guys...

To be fair, I think DC is doing a good job with MB in the commentary this year, its the other jokers that really aren't needed - I'm looking at you Eddie Jordan - sorry slight digression!

[Bahnstormer]

If he's setting up for UK roads, probably best to concentrate on the 4x4's, or maybe some sort of APS (Anti-Pothole-System) !!!!

[Oddball RS]

Ollieb7 said:

God i could save AMG a lot of money with two word advise.... Manual Gearbox!!! That would make a huge improvement over the slush boxes..

Also for a fiver ...... no weight over 1400 kg please...

For a tenner....

10/10 for a start they need to make cars for the under 60's manual please, no need for an adaptive / predictive slushbox, i can just about handle the gear changing thingy, when i smell of wee that might be different.....................

[The Kraken]

I would choose a manual option over the auto but would it sell?

When it comes to AMG's and their rivals are manual gearboxes a dead end?

Will be interesting to see what the ratio of sales would be if BMW offer a manual
option on the new M5 as rumoured

Edited by The Kraken on Thursday 21st July 13:39

[WMP]

I never really rated DC as an F1 driver but he's a cool b&stard thats for sure. His manner and delivery on BBC F1 is flawless.

I think this may be more of a marketing ploy than anything actually engineering/chassis related.

[Markp13]

DC has been known to drive quite enthusiastically on roads up here, quite often in an AMG merc and quite often beating skilled bikers in the process. So plenty of experience, don't worry about that.

alexpa said:

That's because DC has so much UK road experience right?

I thought he resides in MC?

I think he's doing ok with his F1 commentary, different angle, doesn't seem too fussed and sticks to his opinion.

[dvs_dave]

A manual merc AMG just won't cut it these days as unfortunately manual boxes blunt the performance too much compared to a modern clutch based automated gearbox (the current Merc boxes use a wet clutch as opposed to a torque converter). A manual box also doesn't integrate well with current emmissions targets and associated drivetrain control systems.

Further to this, with the power and torque levels the AMG motors push out, a manual car would have a horrible clutch and gear change due to the sheer size of the parts having to be moved and clunked about.

Sadly the days of big power manual cars are gone, simply because there are better and more efficient alternatives available.

[marcosgt]

Oddball RS said:

10/10 for a start they need to make cars for the under 60's manual please, no need for an adaptive / predictive slushbox, i can just about handle the gear changing thingy, when i smell of wee that might be different.....................

Doesn't the driver's seat weigh about 1600kg in one of these things?

Note to DC - Don't set it up like your DTM car or it won't go around right handers in car parks properly!

M.

[soad]

Bahnstormer said:

If he's setting up for UK roads, probably best to concentrate on the 4x4's, or maybe some sort of APS (Anti-Pothole-System) !!!!