The experiment with a high-performance four-cylinder in the AMG C-Class went badly wrong, and the engineers in Affalterbach are now working flat out on a V8-powered CLE with eight roaring cylinders. It is hardly a new formula for Mercedes. Almost 20 years ago, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series represented the absolute pinnacle of the performance coupé.
On paper, the recipe sounds more American than German. A Ford Mustang Shelby, Corvette Z06 or perhaps a Chevrolet Camaro SS: 6.2 litres, naturally aspirated V8, automatic transmission and a serious amount of power sent to the rear wheels. Yet between 2007 and 2009, Mercedes proved it could build a muscle car of its own. The Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series remains one of the most spectacular models to emerge from Stuttgart in recent decades. AMG transformed the otherwise relatively genteel C209 CLK, available in everything from modest CLK 200 Kompressor to diesel CLK 220 CDI form, into a super-coupé capable of entertaining equally on a racetrack or an unrestricted Autobahn.
Its appearance leaves little doubt that the 63 shares little more than its basic platform and a handful of body details with the regular production coupé. While some AMG models have been criticised for looking too similar to their lesser siblings, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series could hardly be accused of subtlety. Huge spoilers, swollen bumpers, motorsport-derived brakes and an aggressive diffuser replace almost every trace of the elegant but slightly anonymous standard CLK.
Anyone driving a Black Series wants to be noticed. Few cars could be less suitable as a getaway vehicle for a bank robbery. At 4.66 metres long, the Black Series looks as though it is ploughing through the air, and even those with little interest in cars can tell there is something serious hiding beneath those dramatically flared wheelarches. The broad front bumper, with its huge cooling apertures and carbon side outlets, is particularly menacing, while the rear features diffuser fins and dedicated cooling for the rear axle.
The interior is hardly more restrained. The two rear seats have disappeared entirely, replaced by carpeted luggage trays, while the grab handles above the windows seem to have survived the motorsport-inspired diet simply because Mercedes could not find anywhere else to hang a jacket. The front bucket seats are suitably uncompromising, as is the pared-back dashboard and switchgear.
Thankfully, air conditioning, electric windows and satellite navigation escaped the purge. The small suede-covered steering wheel feels perfectly suited to a few after-work laps of the Nürburgring Nordschleife, while the tightly fitting seats provide excellent support during aggressive cornering without completely sacrificing long-distance comfort.
The Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series is a genuine racing machine, although not an entirely uncivilised one. AMG’s engineers retained just enough comfort to make the car usable away from the circuit. A few quick laps reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of the two-seater.
On slippery surfaces or through tight corners, the 507 PS coupé can struggle to put its power down. Brake too late into a corner and it quickly becomes apparent that a perfect 50:50 weight distribution was never part of the equation. AMG’s enormous 6.3-litre engine sits heavily over the front axle, while the rear becomes noticeably lively as the limits approach.
It is here that you learn to appreciate the aggressively calibrated but impressively judged ESP. The traction control also has plenty to do when all 507 PS are unleashed. The steering is precise, although it could perhaps be a little heavier, while the suspension is not quite as brutally stiff as the Black Series image might suggest.
Anyone seriously intending to use the CLK on circuit would be wise to experiment with the adjustable coilover suspension. Firmer damper settings can reduce the remaining body movement, although the standard compromise helps preserve a surprising degree of everyday usability for a car that still weighs almost 1.8 tonnes.
The adjustable sports suspension allows experienced drivers to tailor the chassis to their requirements, while a limited-slip rear differential helps maximise traction. A high-performance braking system, with larger composite discs at the front, delivers formidable stopping power. Grip comes courtesy of 265/30 R19 tyres at the front and 285/30 R19 rubber at the rear, wrapped around 19-inch forged wheels.
The engine, like much of the car, is closely related technologically to the AMG Safety Car used during the 2007 and 2008 Formula 1 seasons. Extensive cooling measures for the engine, wheels and rear axle help the naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 produce 373 kW / 507 PS at 6,800 rpm. Maximum torque of 630 Nm arrives at 5,250 rpm.
The claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds is achievable only with warm tyres and a suitably smooth surface. Get everything right, however, and those enormous rear tyres dig into the asphalt and fire the CLK towards 100, 200 km/h and beyond with tremendous force. Only at an electronically limited 300 km/h does the acceleration finally come to an end.
Every squeeze of the throttle is accompanied by the thunderous growl of the naturally aspirated V8 through its sports exhaust. It remains one of the defining characteristics of the Black Series and a reminder of an era before turbocharging, hybridisation and emissions regulations transformed the performance-car landscape.
A modified seven-speed sports automatic transmission with a shorter final-drive ratio adds further urgency. Compared with many contemporary rivals fitted with sequential transmissions, the Mercedes automatic was an outstanding piece of engineering. Changes are both aggressive and smooth, slipping rapidly through the ratios without unnecessary drama.
Fahrzeuge: R 107 450 SL, C 209 CLK 63 AMG, W 113 280 SL, C 217 S 650 Cabriolet (Maybach), W 210 Renntech E 60 RS, V 251 R 63 AMG, 300 SEL 6.3 Sedan
Even on circuit, there is little need to reach for the aluminium shift paddles. Leave the transmission in Sport and concentrate on gripping the suede steering wheel instead. Its programming can seem almost clairvoyant, selecting the appropriate gear with remarkable accuracy.
When the Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series arrived almost two decades ago, its €141,610 price made it one of the most expensive Mercedes models on sale. Even then, it seemed unlikely that many owners would regularly subject their cars to circuit abuse. That is even more true today, now that the Black Series has become a sought-after modern classic.
Those who wanted something slightly less extreme could buy the regular 481 PS CLK 63 AMG for €89,900. That meant paying more than €50,000 extra for the Black Series treatment, sacrificing some comfort in exchange for greater circuit ability, considerably more visual drama and, perhaps most importantly, exclusivity.
Today, examples of both versions remain available on the international used-car market. Prices for the 481 PS CLK 63 AMG and the much more desirable 507 PS Black Series vary considerably, but the latter has long since moved beyond being merely an old AMG.
Nearly two decades later, the CLK 63 AMG Black Series still represents one of Affalterbach’s wildest creations: big engine, rear-wheel drive, outrageous styling and just enough restraint to make the madness usable.
