Mercedes-Benz C 55 AMG

[rgowani]

An AMG V8 engine with 5.5 litres of displacement, 270 kW/367 hp and 510 Nm of torque — Mercedes-AMG GmbH is rolling out its most sporty C-Class ever: the new C 55 AMG. With these figures, the AMG high-performance car has posted new records for its segment. The eight-cylinder top model guarantees excellent driving performance and ensures the very best in driving pleasure thanks to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission that employs steering-wheel shifting. The car has extremely dynamic handling as a result of the new, more rigid AMG sport chassis, including the newly tuned ESPÒ, the AMG high-performance braking system and the more directly transferred steering. As far as looks go, the new eight-cylinder top model stands out from other members of the C-Class, and its unique design creates a dynamic impression thanks to its reworked front end and wider track, 18-inch AMG light-alloy, double-spoke wheels, AMG styling, rear trailing edge (saloon only) and sporty AMG exhaust system with chrome-plated twin tailpipes.

The C 55 AMG’s interior really stands out, thanks to its exclusive sporty equipment and first-class ambience. Excellent lateral support is provided by the new AMG sport seats covered with nappa leather and featuring shoulder-height Alcantara inserts. The strikingly styled sporty AMG steering wheel with gearshift buttons and the new AMG instrument cluster with its classic round gauges enhance the vehicle’s dynamic appearance. The market introduction of the saloon and estate-car versions of the C 55 AMG will begin in April 2004 at the same time as the new generation C-Class.

Athletic, muscular and nicely proportioned — this is how the new Mercedes-Benz C 55 AMG looks. The redesigned front end signals the vehicle’s technological uniqueness. The dominant feature beneath the bonnet is the large power package — an eight-cylinder AMG engine with 5.5 litres of displacement, 270 kW/367 hp and 510 Nm of torque. As a result, the C 55 AMG outperforms its predecessor model, the C 32 AMG, with an additional 10 kW/13 hp and 60 Nm and races ahead of all other vehicles in its competitive segment.


Sports car performance and dynamic driving pleasure
The powerful drive system enables the vehicle to offer high-level sports car performance and dynamic driving pleasure: It takes only 5.2 seconds (saloon) or 5.4 seconds (estate) to jump from zero to 100 km/h. The maximum speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

Teamed up with AMG SPEEDSHIFT and steering-wheel gear changing, the C 55 AMG offers a unique power package. The gears of the five-speed automatic transmission can be changed by touch control on the selector lever or by buttons on the new ergonomic AMG sports steering wheel. In the manual shift program “M,” no down-shifting occurs even at full throttle and kick-down. As a result, the driver can fully tap the eight-cylinder engine’s high torque. In addition, AMG SPEEDSHIFT offers torque converter lockup, optimal gear function, automatic braking deceleration and faster gear changing, thus creating a truly thrilling driving experience.


New AMG sport chassis with more rigid tuning
Agile and dynamic are the features characterizing the more rigid AMG sports chassis of the C 55 AMG. The car’s handling is made even more precise and sporty thanks to a number of features: new springs and shock absorbers and harder bearings for the wheel suspension that work together with a seven-percent more directly transferred steering system and a 14 millimetre wider front-axle track. AMG’s 18-inch light-alloy, double-spoke wheels, the powerful AMG braking system and the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP®) that is outfitted with a new type of traction function satisfy the highest demands for dynamic handling.


Unique look and redesigned interior
One look at the car’s new front end and powerful tail end shows that the new C 55 AMG is in a class of its own. The bonnet, fenders, headlights and radiator grille have been redesigned, as has the vehicle’s rear. AMG styling and a trailing edge on the boot cover (saloon only) are among the C 55 AMG’s standard features. The new sporty AMG exhaust system with two chrome-plated twin tailpipes serves as a visual highlight for the vehicle. But there is more than meets the eye: The unmistakable sound of the V8 engine adds a further dynamic feature to the new AMG model.

The car’s new sportiness also can be seen in the eye-catching interior: New AMG sports nappa leather seats with shoulder-height Alcantara inserts to ensure optimal lateral support. These inserts are also found on the outside back-row seats. At the driver’s seat, your eye is caught by the new AMG instrument cluster equipped with four classic round gauges and the ergonomic sports steering wheel with gear-shifting buttons.


Successful AMG top models of the C-Class
AMG’s top C-Class models traditionally serve as cornerstones of Mercedes-AMG’s success. They also are among the most popular vehicles in the entire AMG product range. The C 36 AMG introduced in 1993 marks a milestone for the vehicles, since it was the first AMG vehicle to be developed and sold as the result of a partnership agreement between Daimler-Benz and AMG. In 1997, the first successor model with an eight-cylinder engine, the C 43 AMG, was introduced. And, for the first time, an estate-car version became available. In 2001, the C 32 AMG equipped with a super-charged V6 engine and based on the totally new C-Class was presented.

With 260 kW/354 hp, it moved to the head of the pack in its class. A year later, the first diesel sports car, the new C 30 CDI AMG, appeared. Over a period of 10 years, around 19,200 sporty C-Class models from AMG were sold.

[Gordon]

Those clear lens lights really look cool on the C. I've seen atleast 2 C's with those lights. 367 bhp. No SC???

[rgowani]

Nope No Supercharger in this.