Autobahn Top Speed Run: Old Mercedes CLK puts V8 Engine to Work
The second-gen Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class was released in 2003. It produced 302 horsepower (225kW) and 339 pound-feet (342 Newton-meters) of torque. This video shows the V8-powered coupe taking a high-speed run down the autobahn.
Even after covering 127.603 km (79,289 mi) over the years, this 2003 CLK 500 still looks amazing. The cabin is quiet even at high speeds. Maybe it’s because of the microphone. It looks like a grand tourer.
This clip is taken late in the afternoon by the driver. The sun is setting during this part. The driver can maintain a speed of 200 kph (124 MPH) in light traffic. This allows him to drive longer distances at 240 kph (149 MPH).
The first section of video shows a glare on speedometer, making it difficult to see the velocity. The car is traveling at more than 250 kph (155 miles per hour) according to the gauge.
The second clip shows the driver going for another run. The speedometer now reaches the maximum speed of 260 km/h (162 mph) only a few times. At these speeds, the vehicle’s performance seems effortless. Given how simple things look in this clip, it seems Mercedes designed the CLK for this purpose.
In 2007, Mercedes replaced the CLK 500 by the CLK 550. It received a 5.5-liter V8 engine instead of the 5.0-liter. The output was increased to 382 horsepower (285 kW) & 391 lbft (530 Nm).
The CLK 63 AMG Black Series was the range-topping CLK model. From 2007 to 2009, 500 were made by the company. The 500-unit batch contained a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 that produced 500 horsepower (373 kW) & 465 lbft (630 Nm). The power was transmitted to the rear axle via a seven-speed manual with a limited slip differential.