Speed Freaks - American Car - Exotic Drivetrain

This exotic drivetrain combination purrs smoothly at idle, eager to receive heavy accelerator input. Tip into the throttle, and the engine races swiftly and smoothly, awaiting the next shift. The stick has microscopic throws with zero side play. Our test car required somewhat heavy clutch effort, with a shallow engage/disengage range of motion that conspired to permit lightning-quick shifts. Once rolling, judicious throttle application unleashes raging primal forces in the CLK60 that seem to warp time and speed, pushing the driver deep into the supportive Recaro leather bucket seats and slowing the outside world. Motive force is applied through multipiece 18-inch OZ Racing F1 Cup wheels wrapped by wide Pirelli PZero tires at each corner. Behind the massive aluminum wheels lurk Brembo four-piston brakes, with 14-inch front discs and 12-inch rear discs plumbed with stainless lines.

Tested at Moroso Motorsports Park, in south Florida, the CLK60 demanded a mild 1300-1400-rpm launch. Much like a Dodge Viper, any less and the car limps away from the Christmas tree waiting for the revs to climb. Any more, and wheelspin liquifies the $300-apiece Pirelli tires. With the technique sorted out, the CLK60 hit 60 mph in a Corvette-spanking 4.7 seconds, knocking 1.8 seconds (or 28 percent) off the stock CLK430's time. Soaring down the 1320-foot track, the ber coupe flew past the quarter-mile mark in 13.3 seconds at 106.4 mph, quicker than an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, Ferrari 456M, or Porsche 911.

RENNTech fortified the suspension with custom-tuned components, including linear-rate H&R springs and Koni dampers. The lowered car remains flat and stable through turns, orbiting radii as if tethered. Steering is heavier due to tire fitment, with more feedback than the stock car, enhancing road feel without detracting from the upscale motoring experience. Pushed to its considerable limits, the rear-drive car oversteers predictably, encouraging naughty fun.

The interior makeover suits the high-tech spirit of the vehicle, dressing it with an extensive carbon fiber kit, gray-faced gauges, leather/carbon steering wheel, and CLK60 floormats. Body-hugging seats provide the lateral support needed for the centrifuge-level forces this car craves, while also being quite comfortable for tame driving excursions.

Such luxury performance and luxury doesn't come cheap. The cost of the mods alone is near $100,000, or almost $150,000 complete. Pricey, to be sure, but, to a select few, well worth it.