600bhp CL

Does any Mercedes driver need 600bhp?

By PH Staff / Monday, 24 February 2003 / Loading comments

Mercedes-AMG are rapidly losing the plot in their quest for power. The phrase 'never enough' is about to be challenged by their latest evil invention - the 612bhp V12 CL.

The monstrous power unit is to be shoehorned into the new CL 65 AMG which will be rolled out in Geneva.

To achieve these amazing power figures, the engineers at AMG enlarged the cylinders and increased the stroke of the crankshaft, taking the capacity up to 5,980cc. Forged pistons, main and big-end bearings have then been used to take the internal strain. Two turbo chargers the size of small children are then slapped on top for good measure. Finally the large aperture injection nozzles have been used to squirt petrol in as fast as it can be pumped out of the ground.

Power is transferred by a five-speed automatic transmission with the steering wheel mounted 'Speedshift' sequential control.

Changes have been made at the rear to the differential and drive shafts to cope with the immense torque (1000Nm).

The usual active suspension and traction control technologies are employed in an attempt to rein in the potential havoc lurking at the end of your right foot.