Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG

To celebrate winning the 2003 DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters), Mercedes-Benz produced a limited CLK series, which it introduced in 2004.

While 2003 was a glorious year for the new CLK (C209) in the DTM, 2004 didn’t go that well. That didn’t stop the German carmaker from offering a special vehicle, developed on the same platform as the CLK but enhanced to the maximum: the CLK DTM AMG. Just nine letters to describe the most ferocious CLK ever made. Nine letters and nine victories out of ten races for the CLK race car.

The DTM AMG version looked like no other CLK. Apart from the AMG spoiler with an A-shaped lower bumper grille, the front of the car featured a three-slats main grille integrated into the hood. A set of moldings was applied on the front fenders to widen the wheel-arches. They were paired with another set over the rear fenders, which included an air-intake to cool the brakes. At the back of the car, the carmaker installed a wing on top of the trunk-lid.

Inside, the carmaker stripped the cabin and replaced most of the parts. The carbon-fiber seats featured only front and back adjustments, but not for reclining or something else. There were no seats in the back, just a horizontal strut that reinforced the bodywork. A five-point harness was provided instead of the regular, three-point retractable seatbelt.

All of the above were needed for the beast under the hood. Mercedes-Benz installed a 5.4-liter supercharged engine, which provided 582 hp. It was mated to a specially adapted 5-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel and sent all the power to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential.