The CLK63 AMG Black Series was a car that was launched back in 2007, and it became an instant hit with many car enthusiasts including Top gear’s Jeremy Clarkson. Powered by a huge 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8, this super coupe pushes out 500hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s supercar performance figures which means this bad boy hits 60 in just 4.3 to 4.1 seconds which is insane.
The best thing about the CLK63 though wasn’t the performance figures at all. In fact, it’s a car that you don’t want to drive fast. You want to drive this car sideways with a load of smoke coming from the tires, and this car is a professional at doing that. It’s a hooligan’s car that will completely scare the living daylights out of you.
This was Mercedes’ second Black Series AMG car in their history and it was absolutely insane. It was developed upon the CLK63 AMG Formula One 2006/07 pace car, which is a car that had to keep up with the likes of Micheal Schumacher. A pretty special car then if you ask me.
So what made this car so special? Why did Jeremy Clarkson call it his “favorite car” back when he reviewed it in 2008. Well, let’s find out.
Limited to Just 500 Units.
The CLK63 AMG Black Series was limited to just 500 units worldwide, and the US got 349 of them. Hence why these cars have held their value so well. New these cars were around $135,000 and they still are priced at a similar point today.
The Black Series featured the same engine as the standard CLK63 model, but it had so much more power. Plus, the CLK63 Black Series featured a wider body kit, more aerodynamic parts, a Limited Slip Differential, larger air intakes, bucket seats, and Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires. However, you don’t get rear seats to save weight.
The exterior is dripping with carbon fiber. When launched in 2008, this was absolutely insane since carbon fiber was only seen on proper exotic supercars and race cars. The weave is incredible and it looks like a proper race car. I absolutely love the exterior of these things as they’re just so unique.
Famous owners apart from Clarkson include Simon Cowell and current Top Gear presenter Chris Harris and he loves his CLK63 Black Series. If Chris Harris loves it, then it must mean that this car is a serious bit of kit. Couldn’t really care what Simon Cowell thinks, but I am 100% sure that he loved this thing too considering when he purchased this car, he had enough money to buy cars like a Buggati.
Insanely Good Fun.
The CLK63 Black Series is a seriously fun car. It has so much torque which is perfect for power slides. The total amount is 456 lb-ft all to the rear wheels which means that this car is a tire eater. However, the grip on this car is still very good thanks to the aerodynamics and sticky P-Zero tires. It handles as a proper performance car should.
It may not be as track-focused as say a GT3 Porsche but it sure does feel more aggressive. The exhaust note sounds thunderous. It is very scary and it sure sounds explicit. Harcore pornography if you ask me. Nothing beats the sound of a 6.2 AMG V8 whatsoever, it really does put a smile on your face.
The acceleration is phenomenal. No turbo lag whatsoever means that things are instant. The Mercedes 7G Tronic Speedshift automatic is a very fast gearbox. It may not be a double-clutch but none of that matters really. That gearbox can easily handle all of the power with ease.
The interior is lovely. The trim is gloss carbon fiber which makes everything feel so much more expensive and exotic. The flat bottomed racing steering wheel is finished with Alcantara sides for better grip and the paddle shifters are finished in aluminum. But the best bit? The awesome AMG bucket seats, which are still used in top AMG models today, They’re awesome and they give such good support. They may not be the most comfortable seats but who cares? If you want comfort, you can opt for some more comfortable bucket seats seen in other AMG models.
There are no seats in the rear to save weight which makes the car feel so much more hardcore and special.
Why Do So Many People Love The CLK Black So Much?
Why do so many people love the CLK Black Series so much? Quite simply, because it’s excellent. It does everything a true car enthusiast asks for. It’s an RWD race car for the road that can act like a ludicrous muscle car. This car is truly insane (mentally). The driving experience is second to none at all. No car can really come close sound-wise in comparison to this car.
The standard CLK63 AMG is a monster, but the Black Series takes everything to level ten. In fact, the CLK black is actually a similar weight to the standard CLK63 despite the lack of rear seats, carbon fiber, and more. This is due to the fact that Mercedes has fitted stronger better parts to control this beast.
No wonder Clarkson was the happiest man in the world when driving this thing. It’s exciting and violent plus the braking is brilliant due to the fact they’re carbon-ceramic. If you want something that keeps you awake and on your toes, then forget Red Bull. Drive one of these and you will see why. It’s absolutely fantastic. By far one of the best cars in history, and nothing like this will ever be built again.
To Conclude.
A looney car. It’s stupidly quick and it looks insane. Sure, it won’t turn heads but who cares? Get a Lamborghini if you want that. If you’re a true car enthusiast who really wants something that is a bit of a Unicorn then this is what you want. It’s a car that normal people won’t understand and they never will. Most people wouldn’t believe that this car in the UK at least is a £100,000 car which is insane, considering a normal CLK63 is less than three-quarters of that.
However, this is a car that won’t depreciate at all. It’s so sought after by car enthusiasts for the way it drives. Being limited in production helps too, but it’s mostly because of how it makes you feel when it drives. This is an unsung hero. completely underrated and if you love cars that are a tad different then you need one of these.