...sooooo, what´s interesting in the text, first they talk/hint about the "AMG image" - sure, AMG´s making luxury sport cars, well with intonation on "luxury" so basically the cars out of Affalterbach are more the F1 track like car and just for occasional track use...
...but the CLK DTM is way different - first, just because of the looks, inside and outside with carbon fibre panels inside the cockpit and massice aerodynamics outside with EVO II like rear wing, second because of the 582hp engine and third because of the Dunlop semi slicks...
...well, after taking a closer look the good view differs a bit - with a weight of 1678kgs it´s only 20 kgs lighter than the std. CLK 55 AMG due to kinda heavy engine and bigger wheels, also not very "pure sports car like" is the radio, A/C, and and this is a very big AND, the auto-geabox...
...but this thoughts only last about ten seconds till the driver has fastened the 5-point harnesse and launched the engine - some might expect the typical supercharged AMG V8 sound but this one is so much different - it´s furious like the race car engines from the DTM cars of the 80s...
on the way to the track the suspension is definitely daily driver suitable, very sensitive setup, no strange noises from brakes or chassis, only the engine is very "present" - performance wise and AND acoustically...
a nice detail - every stop at the gas station has a "press conference-type" hype with ppl immediately sorrounding the car...
...first stop:
HHR:
handling, immediacy, precision and semi slicks are the key factor for the HHR lap time. with all the sophisticated suspension goodies like uniball joints at the damper mounts, harder rubber bushings and stiff stabis at the rear axle the DTM is quicker than the SLR, the brakes are delivering an outstanding performance, no fading, perfect ABS setup and pedal feel...
the steering is probably the biggest step forward - hands down the best steering for a long time and definitely the benchmark of all AMGs including the SLR...
the Speedshift auto box isn´t that much annoying as on other cars like SLR, in manual mode the box won´t upshift even when operating at the rev.limiter at 7000rpm, the shifting times are extremely low and nearly perfect - only downside, the auto box doesn´t provide a double-clutch effect under downshifting, resulting in an high braking torque when downshifting at high rpms...
the setup of the ESP system is way better and definitely track-friendly because it helps the unskilled driver to handle a 590ft-lb RWD car, but driven really hard it´s again annoying as it re-activates kinda hard and unwanted when a certain drift angle is reached...
NS:
the CLK DTM could have done even better under warmer conditions with its Dunlop semi slicks which require quite some warming up to provide optimal grip - nevertheless, with a lap time of 7:54 it´s equally fast like a GT3...
key for the good lap time - same points as at HHR and NS specifically: outstanding traction with tyre + diff lock combination and extremely powerful engine and fool-proof handling behaviour even at the limit…
acceleration/de-acceleration:
only with warm tyres good results can be achieved, that´s the key point of that category…
aerodynamics:
although the CLK DTM has some features from real DTM cars like sophisticated front and rear spoiler including diffusors real DTM cars are good for ~500kg downforce at 200kmh, the CLK DTM AMG only created 12kg downforce at the rear and 37kg ascending force at the front, but this 37kg are not critical even at speeds around the 320kmh top speed the car is very stable and controllable…
max. lateral g´s:
very good result with 1.3g´s for a nearly 1700kg car – again the Dunlop SP Super Sport Race semi slicks 255 front and 285 rear are helping here…
36m slalom:
with a speed exceeding 130kmh the CLK DTM is definitely among the best, and with astonishing 136kmh it´s faster than a CSL or CGT!!!
here at lower speeds and constant wheel movements the ESP is helping the driver – sounds weired because on the track and later with the evasion test it´s the other way round, but here it provides exactly that amount of drifting angle that the car is able to score 10 out of 10 points, of course in combination with super precise steering and semi slicks…
110m evasion test:
…with higher speeds and the sudden and harder steering inputs the ESP system is acting definitely too harsh, also the weight isn´t actually helping a lot here…
wet handling:
quite good result for a semi slick equipped car with 590lb-ft at the rear axle, but of course the tyres with their high positive tread design can´t displace water that good like normal street tyres…
the only
conclusion: the CLK DTM AMG is simply the better car – sorry for Ron and the SLR…
Sport Auto Supertest: CLK DTM AMG
. I would have expected a faster NS lap time for sure. I respect MB for attempting to develop a car for that is track orientated.. Better luck next time? 
Please upload them again. Thanx
Linear Mode
