Motor Authority - blog Tag: Carlsson

German tuner Carlsson is renowned for its work with Mercedes Benz models, ranging from its aerodynamic upgrades to its mechanical modifications that offer alternatives to the stock standard AMG treatment most high-performance Mercs are subject to.

Mercedes' new E-Class, of course, means that Carlsson has a new toy to play with and the tuner hasn't wasted anytime on its work with the car. Set to debut in just one week at the 2009 Tuning World Bodensee, the Carlsson E-Class is expected to add some more 'exciting' elements to the ordinary sedan.

On the outside, a stainless-steel mesh grille is accompanied by a new front spoiler and vertical... German tuner Carlsson is renowned for its work with Mercedes Benz models, ranging from its aerodynamic upgrades to its mechanical modifications that offer alternatives to the stock standard AMG treatment most high-performance Mercs are subject to. Mercedes' new E-Class, of course, means that Carlsson has a new toy to play with and the tuner hasn't wasted anytime on its work with the car. Set to debut in just one week at the 2009 Tuning World Bodensee, the Carlsson E-Class is expected to add some more 'exciting' elements to the ordinary sedan. On the outside, a stainless-steel mesh grille is accompanied by a new front spoiler and vertical daytime running lights. Side skirts continue the aggressive trend set by the new front spoiler, while at the back an impressively sized rear-diffuser accompanies two fat, ovular exhaust pipes and a small bootlid spoiler - underneath which lies a discrete 'Carlsson' badge. Besides the complete aerodynamic kit, developed by head designer Rolf Schepp, the vehicle offers exclusive interior fittings, more performance and the intelligent lowering system C-Tronic Suspension. According to Carlsson, the control unit of the suspension detects the road conditions and adjusts the remaining spring range continuously, meaning that the car will always be perfectly tuned for wherever it's driving. Minor power hikes can also be found for the E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, and the V8-engined E550/500, all of which up their power by 40-55hp (30-40kW). Pricing for the upgrades hasn't been announced yet, but there should be more details following the Tuning World event.2010 Mercedes Benz E-Class by Carlsson Read More

Modifying new cars is an art, and like all art, its beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The only thing certain with the Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse is that the beholder's eye will be full, and very busy.

Based around the Mercedes-Benz GL500, the 5.5L V8 engine gets some serious tuning to boost output from 388hp (289kW) to 456hp (340kW) and bump up the torque from 391lb-ft (530Nm) to 472lb-ft (640Nm). The gains come from new cylinder heads, high-lift cams, and high-flow catalytic converters and exhaust.

The two-tone paint job is sure to catch notice, the wine-colored lower adding snap to the glossy black upper. Busy lines in the... Modifying new cars is an art, and like all art, its beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The only thing certain with the Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse is that the beholder's eye will be full, and very busy. Based around the Mercedes-Benz GL500, the 5.5L V8 engine gets some serious tuning to boost output from 388hp (289kW) to 456hp (340kW) and bump up the torque from 391lb-ft (530Nm) to 472lb-ft (640Nm). The gains come from new cylinder heads, high-lift cams, and high-flow catalytic converters and exhaust. The two-tone paint job is sure to catch notice, the wine-colored lower adding snap to the glossy black upper. Busy lines in the lower fascia, hood and side skirt all add to the effect. LED accent lights and massive 23in multi-spoke bright alloy wheels give the bottom layer of the car even more shine. At the back, a quad-tipped exhaust spouts a more aggressive soundtrack than the stock vehicle while adding more bling as well. Inside, the car gets the usual leather and Alcantara treatment on doors, dash, seats and center stack. The rear cargo area, that was once the location of the two rear-most seats has been replaced with a hidden set of Carlsson Aigner wine glasses, complementing the car's color theme. As a special limited edition, only 20 of the CK55 RS Rascasse will be made, starting at a base price of €228,500 ($288,000). The Rascasse, like the Eau Rouge and Blanchimont before it, is named after a famous racing circuit bend, though unlike its forerunners, named after turns at Spa Francorchamps, the Rascasse name comes from Monaco.Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse Read More

Straight out of the box the Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG is already one of the sportiest models in the carmaker’s lineup, but the car’s heady 525hp (392kW) output was never going to satisfy the guys at German tuner Carlsson. Applying lessons learned from its previous CK50 kit based on the SL500/550 the tuner has upgraded the 6.2L V8 engine to the tune of 600hp (448kW) and 520lb-ft (705Nm) of torque, lifting performance of the SL63 into supercar territory.

The 0-100km/h sprint takes just 4.1 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than the standard SL63), with 200km/h passing in 14.2 seconds and momentum finally succumbing at an electronically... Straight out of the box the Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG is already one of the sportiest models in the carmaker’s lineup, but the car’s heady 525hp (392kW) output was never going to satisfy the guys at German tuner Carlsson. Applying lessons learned from its previous CK50 kit based on the SL500/550 the tuner has upgraded the 6.2L V8 engine to the tune of 600hp (448kW) and 520lb-ft (705Nm) of torque, lifting performance of the SL63 into supercar territory. The 0-100km/h sprint takes just 4.1 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than the standard SL63), with 200km/h passing in 14.2 seconds and momentum finally succumbing at an electronically controlled top speed of 325km/h. A fully integrated aerodynamic package gives off a menacing appearance, while being completely functional, and can be adapted to all current SL models. All additions are available in high-quality carbon-fiber, including the unique front apron that reduces lift on the front axle and allows for improved cooling of the engine. The wheels measure 20in in diameter and are fitted with Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires. Up back sits a new rear diffuser housing sports exhaust tailpipes, shaded rear lights and a unique boot lid. Inside, Carlsson added a sports steering wheel with carbon gearshift paddles, additional instruments and extra carbon trim. One interesting mod is the scissor style doors, an option not usually applied to Mercedes cars. Pricing for the package starts at €272,500.Carlsson CK63 RS based on the Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG Read More

Mercedes' tech-leader and showcase car, the S-Class, gets the custom treatment from Carlsson with the RS design kit, presenting an exterior image to reflect the interior's cutting-edge equipment. Retaining much of the sophisticated look of the original, the kit adds a bit more aggression to the final product.

The elegant, swooping curves of the car's upper half are left untouched, with Carlsson instead focusing its efforts on the road-skimming portion of the car - a wider, more angular air duct section of the front fascia, flared side sills and a rear diffuser to smooth the airflow are the primary additions. A carbon fiber rear decklid... Mercedes' tech-leader and showcase car, the S-Class, gets the custom treatment from Carlsson with the RS design kit, presenting an exterior image to reflect the interior's cutting-edge equipment. Retaining much of the sophisticated look of the original, the kit adds a bit more aggression to the final product. The elegant, swooping curves of the car's upper half are left untouched, with Carlsson instead focusing its efforts on the road-skimming portion of the car - a wider, more angular air duct section of the front fascia, flared side sills and a rear diffuser to smooth the airflow are the primary additions. A carbon fiber rear decklid spoiler, custom 21in alloy wheels and a quad-tipped exhaust system add the finishing touches. Available in either polyurethane or carbon fiber, the RS bodykit also includes four new lights at the front end, two fog lights and two high-beams. The kit is available for the entire S-Class range, including diesel and AMG models. Pricing hasn't yet been announced.Carlsson RS design kit for Mercedes' S-Class Read More

Mercedes Benz specialists Carlsson will be showing off its new customized Aigner CK65 RS 'Eau Rouge' Dark Edition at the Zurich Motor Show this week. Produced in an extremely limited edition run of just ten units, the luxury coupe is available as either the 'entry level' V12 twin-turbo model with 705hp (525kW) or the more expensive, higher-spec variant with 756hp (564kW). The car follows in the vein of the previous Carlsson Aigner collaboration on the S-Class, which you can read about by clicking here.

Using the Mercedes CL as a base, Carlsson began its modifications with a newly designed front end. Both the front skirt and front spoiler... Mercedes Benz specialists Carlsson will be showing off its new customized Aigner CK65 RS 'Eau Rouge' Dark Edition at the Zurich Motor Show this week. Produced in an extremely limited edition run of just ten units, the luxury coupe is available as either the 'entry level' V12 twin-turbo model with 705hp (525kW) or the more expensive, higher-spec variant with 756hp (564kW). The car follows in the vein of the previous Carlsson Aigner collaboration on the S-Class, which you can read about by clicking here. Using the Mercedes CL as a base, Carlsson began its modifications with a newly designed front end. Both the front skirt and front spoiler are made of solid carbon, and are accompanied by shaded bi-xenon headlights with cone-shaped lights and a Carlsson 'Leaping Horse' badge on the front grille. The 'Dark' edition of Carlsson's Aigner CK65 RS ‘Eau Rouge’ is only available in the two-tone paintjob seen above, comprised of metallic Obsidian black and Himalaya gray. The vehicle picks up its ‘Aigner’ tag because of the collaboration between Carlsson and luxury goods brand Etienne Aigner AG, and as such the car is available with more than 30 different combinations of leather, Alcantara, aluminum and wood trim. The production and installation of the entire interior takes over two weeks. Inside, you'll find electrically adjustable sport seats with high-quality Aigner leather. There is also a new Carlsson sports steering wheel in a leather and Alcantara combination, as well as aluminum pedals. Interestingly, the complete interior, except for the seats and plastics, has been covered with Aigner Alcantara, including the ceiling, dashboard and sun protectors. But the Carlsson Aigner CK65 is not a simple aesthetics package, as you've probably guessed. Not only does the car get a sports exhaust system, it also gets what Carlsson calls its C-Tronic suspension system, which lowers the car by approximately 30mm. The C-tronic system is also capable of judging the road conditions and if the tarmac is too bouncy it will raise the height of the vehicle automatically to prevent any damage to the underbody. Carlsson has also tweaked the ECU, with special ignition maps for fuel injection and ignition, giving the range-topping model an electronically limited maximum speed of 335km/h. Meanwhile, the sprint to 100km/h is demolished in just 3.8 seconds. Prices for the entry level Carlsson Aigner CK65 ”Eau Rouge“ Dark Edition start from €319,000 and for the higher-powered model from €374,000.Carlsson Aigner CK65 Mercedes-Benz S-ClassCarlsson Aigner CK65 RS Eau Rouge Dark Edition Read More

Mercedes' C63 AMG is a ferociously powerful sedan, rated at a whopping 457hp (336kW) from the factory. But the tuners at Carlsson weren't satisfied, and decided to dump another 108hp (81kW) into the big V8 for an insanely powerful result, dubbed the CK63 S.
Nearing the celebrated 100hp/liter metric in a naturally aspirated 6.3L V8 is an achievement in itself. For comparison, the Cadillac CTS-V gets 556hp (414kW) from its 6.2L LSA V8, but it does so with the aid of a supercharger. The added power doesn't go to waste, either, hurtling the mid-sized sedan to 62mph (100km/h) in just 3.8 seconds - nearing Corvette ZR-1 territory. That's an... Mercedes' C63 AMG is a ferociously powerful sedan, rated at a whopping 457hp (336kW) from the factory. But the tuners at Carlsson weren't satisfied, and decided to dump another 108hp (81kW) into the big V8 for an insanely powerful result, dubbed the CK63 S. Nearing the celebrated 100hp/liter metric in a naturally aspirated 6.3L V8 is an achievement in itself. For comparison, the Cadillac CTS-V gets 556hp (414kW) from its 6.2L LSA V8, but it does so with the aid of a supercharger. The added power doesn't go to waste, either, hurtling the mid-sized sedan to 62mph (100km/h) in just 3.8 seconds - nearing Corvette ZR-1 territory. That's an improvement of 0.7 seconds over the stock C63 AMG, which is capable of a still-impressive 4.5 second 0-62mph (100km/h) dash. In addition to the heavily massaged engine treatment, the CK63 raises the speed limiter to 186mph (300km/h) for sanity and safety more than anything. A coilover kit and high-strength limited-slip differential are also added to the CK63 to handle the added demands likely to be placed on the car. The coilover system is fully adjustable as well, with a stepless height setting and individual damping settings, the driver can tune the car to the precise circumstances of its use, from full comfort to full race. The limited-slip differential is optional, but highly recommended to keep from burning through single rear tires and enhance overall traction. Though the C63 AMG also features a significantly upgraded aero package over the standard C-Class, the CK63 takes it a step further, optionally throwing carbon fiber versions of the front spoiler, lip, rear spoiler, and all other accessories into play. Lightweight forged wheels in 19x8.5" (front) and 19X10" rear help the car fit enough tire underneath to keep things under a reasonable amount of control, yet weigh 38% less than the stock wheels. Finally, the interior gets a custom treatment as well, with double-stitched leather, a redesigned steering wheel, and a high degree of individualization available for customers that wish to have a completely unique look. The package's price hasn't been announced yet, but expect the numbers to match the suitably insane horsepower figures. To see some of Carlsson's previous handiwork, check out its take on the C-Class estate, the SL 500 and the S-Class.Carlsson CK63 S Read More