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| Photo: DaimlerChrysler Background retouching and further preparation for the web by MBEP webmaster |
Excerpts from DaimlerChrysler press text 7040499.rtf written
by Frank Muehling 1999
New Mercedes-Benz S-Class powered by AMG
Stuttgart/Affalterbach. Barely half a year after the new Mercedes S-Class was unveiled, the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Mercedes-AMG GmbH is now presenting the sports version, the S 55 AMG. The S 55 AMG offers performance of a kind normally only found in top-flight sports cars. Since the beginning of this year, Daimler-Chrysler AG has held a 51 per cent shareholding in Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG
The main difference between the S 55 AMG and its
standard equivalent is its more powerful engine. The basis for this
is provided by the 5.0 liter standard engine in the S-Class, with a displacement
increased to 5439 cubic centimeters by the technical specialists from Mercedes-AMG.
As a result of this treatment, the modern V8 engine in the S 55 AMG, with
three valves per cylinder and dual ignition system, has an output of
265 kW (360 hp), combined with an impressively convincing torque of 530
Nm at 3250/min. This allows the S 55 AMG to accelerate from 0 to
100 km/h in 6.0 seconds a true thoroughbred sports car figure.
The standard AIRmatic air suspension on the S-Class
guarantees hitherto unknown levels of ride comfort and in every situation
is more than a match for the very high performance of the S 55 AMG.
An optional AMG styling packages matches the exterior
appearance of the S 55 AMG to its sporty character. For the interior,
Mercedes-AMG have taken as their basis the already high-quality leather
and fine woods of the standard interior finish of the S-Class. Only
the speedometer is specific to AMG, registering speeds of up 320 km/h
5.5-liter V8 provides AMG sportiness
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| Photo: DaimlerChrysler Background retouching and further preparation for the web by MBEP webmaster |
The V8 engine in the S 55 AMG, with its 5439 cubic
centimeters displacement, three valves per cylinder and dual ignition,
is also to be found in other Mercedes-AMG vehicles. Its output varies
only slightly between the different models, producing 260 kW/354 hp for
the SL 55 AMG, G 55 AMG and E 55 AMG, and 255 kW/347 hp for the C 55 AMG
and CLK 55 AMG.
All AMG vehicles enjoy an exclusively comfortable
level of interior equipment, allied to the exciting exterior AMG styling
that not only emphasizes the sporty character and pronounced dynamic lines
of the car, but actually also improves its aerodynamic performance.
Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG
Top sedan with a sporting heart
· V8 engine with 5.5 liters engine displacement
and 265 kW/360 hp
· High performance and superior comfort
Just six months or so after the introduction of the new
Mercedes S-Class, the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary com-pany Mercedes-AMG
GmbH is now launching its sporty version of the revolutionary top sedan.
The main difference between the S 55 AMG and its standard equivalent is
its more powerful engine, which permits a level of performance normally
only found in top-flight sports cars.
With this objective in mind, the Mercedes-AMG engineers
did not have far to look, for the 5-liter series production engine in the
S-Class provided an ideal basis on which to exercise their power-enhancing
skills. This modern V8 engine with its innovative three-valve technology
and dual ignition system was given a bore-stroke ratio of 97 x 92 millimeters
to increase its displacement to 5439 cubic centimeters, thus providing
the essential prerequisite for further torque improvements. The bare facts
also serve to impress upon us the result of their efforts: with 265 kW/360
hp available at 5500 revs/min, the torque reaches an impressive upper limit
of 530 Nm at 3250 revs/min, although it already goes over the 450 Nm point
at 2000 revs/min and remains at this level up to and beyond the vehicle's
rated speed. This impressive torque gives the S 55 AMG an acceleration
of 0 - 100 km in a mere 6 seconds. The car's top speed is electronically
regulated at 250 km/h, although the vehi-cle can also be supplied, at the
customer's request, without speed limitation.
A comparison of performance data
| . | S 500 | S 55 AMG |
| Displacement | 4966 cm3 | 5439 cm3 |
| Output | 225 kW/306 hp | 265 kW/360 hp |
| Torque | 460 Nm at 2700-4200/min | 530 Nm at 3250/min |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.5 s | 6.0 s |
| Top speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h* |
In order to achieve such impressive figures, the car's whole crankshaft drive was redesigned., Forged aluminium pistons are used, as in motor racing, while specially developed oil injection jets are used to cool the pistons. A new-style twin-stream intake system, special camshafts and a precisely tuned intake manifold ensure the correct filling of the cylinders and provide the technical wherewithal for the eight-cylinder's exemplary torque charac-teristics.
Low pollutant emissions despite high performance
A new exhaust system with an enlarged pipe diameter and
modified silencers serves to keep down both noise levels and the exhaust
back pressure. Two thin-wall ceramic catalytic converters positioned
near the engine bulkhead and two underfloor catalytic converters act together
with the engine management, tried and tested in countless series of tests,
to ensure effective emission controls. The S 55 AMG thus meets the
challenge of all currently valid emissions limits throughout the world,
as well as having the technical potential to meet future emissions regulations
such as the rigorous D4 emissions standard which will not become applicable
in Germany until 2005.
The gear ratios of the electronically controlled five-speed
automatic transmission, which is fitted as standard, have also been tuned
to the sporty character of the car by the Mercedes-AMG GmbH engineers.
The high-torque engine makes a manual version superfluous.
Optional styling package
If so required, the external appearance of the S 55 AMG
can also be styled to complement the sporty character of the car.
A judiciously composed AMG styling package includes restyled front and
rear aprons and new side sills. The S 55 AMG is, however, also available
as a standard-look model. After all, even the basic styling of the
new S-Class has very convincing qualities about it: although the interior
is 17 millimeters longer than in the previous model, the effect is light
and lithe, whilst its coupé-like silhouette gives the car an elegant
and sporty appearance at the same time as it exudes an aura of gravitas
and authority.
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| Photo: DaimlerChrysler Background retouching and further preparation for the web by MBEP webmaster |
Air suspension for a new dimension of ride comfort
Logically enough, the Mercedes-AMG GmbH engineers saw
no need for change as far as the suspension was concerned. The standard
AIRmatic air suspension of the S-Class guarantees a hitherto unknown level
of ride comfort and is already ideally suited to the high performance of
the S 55 AMG. DaimlerChrysler, incidentally, already offer this type
of suspension as standard with the Adaptive Damping System, ADS, which
automati-cally adjusts the operation of the shock absorbers to the actual
condition of the road.
Sporty 18-inch AMG rims provide a visible focus of attention.
At the front, these are 8.5 inches wide with 245/45 R 18 tires, whilst
in the rear, 275/40 R 18 tires are fitted to the 9.5-inch rims.
Luxurious interior and intelligent Assistance Systems
The interior trim is, of course, already on a par with
the luxurious and fully-equipped new S-Class, and it goes without saying
that only the finest leather and woods are used. The speedometer
is the only thing which is specific to AMG, showing speeds up to 320 km/h.
But of course there is still plenty of scope for fulfilling individual
requirements for the interior.
In addition to the specification already familiar from
the standard S-Class, the standard equipment of the S 55 AMG includes:
· AMG 18-inch light alloy wheels
· AMG instrument cluster (scale to 320 km/h)
· AMG exhaust system
· Performance-enhanced braking system
Technical data Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG
Engine
| Cylinder no./arrangement | . | 8/V, 3 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement | Ccm | 5439 |
| Bore x stroke | Mm | 97.0 x 92.0 |
| Rated power | kW (hp) | 265 (360) at 5500/min |
| Rated Torque | Nm | 530 at 3150-4500 |
| Compression ratio | . | 10.5 : 1 |
| Mixture formation | . | Electronic fuel injection HMS |
Transmission
| Type of gearbox | . | 5-speed automatic |
| Ratios.................... | Final drive | 2.82 |
| . | 1st | 3.59 |
| . | 2nd | 2.19 |
| . | 3rd | 1.41 |
| . | 4th | 1.00 |
| . | 5th | 0.83 |
| . | Reverse | 3.16 |
Chassis
| Front | -wheel location | Four-link axle |
| . | -suspension | Air suspension with adaptive damping system and all-round level control |
| Rear | -wheel location | Multi-link independent suspension |
| . | -suspension | Air suspension with adaptive damping system and all-round level control |
| Brakes | . | Brakes Hydraulic dual-circuit brake with vacuum booster, Brake Assist, step-bore master brake cylinder, 4 vented disc brakes, foot-operated parking brake, ABS, BAS, ESP |
| Steering | . | Recirculating ball, power-assisted,steering damper |
| Wheels | . | Front 8.5 J x 18 ET 44, rear 9.5 J x 18 ET 46 |
| Tires | . | Front 245/45 R18 96Y, rear 275/40 R18 99YM0 |
Dimensions and weights
| Wheelbase | mm | 2965 / 3085 |
| Track front/rear | mm | 1574/1570 |
| Overall length | mm | 5038 |
| width | mm | 1855 |
| height | mm | 1444 |
| Turning circle | m | 11.7 / 12.1 |
| Trunk capacity max. | l | 500 |
| EC unladen weight | kg | 1855 / 1875 |
| Payload | kg | 525 |
| Perm. gross vehicle weight | kg | 2380 / 2400 |
| Roof load | kg | 100 |
| Fuel tank capacity incl. reserve | l | 88.0/11.0 |
Performance
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | s | 6.0 |
| Top speed | km/h | 250 |
| Fuel consumption, NEDC overall | l/100 km .... | 13.4 |
 |
| Photo: DaimlerChrysler Background retouching and further preparation for the web by MBEP webmaster |
An Introduction to Mercedes-AMG
· Mercedes-Benz cars refined by the in-house brand
· Individuality and exclusive small series remain
AMG's speciality
· Sporty high-performance vehicles, not only for
racing
· "designo" program assigned to Mercedes-AMG GmbH
· Over 6,000 Mercedes-AMG vehicles sold in 1998
Barely half a year after the new Mercedes S-Class was
unveiled, the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Mercedes-AMG GmbH is now presenting
the sports version, the S 55 AMG. The S 55 AMG offers performance of a
kind normally only found in top-flight sports cars. Since earlier this
year, DaimlerChrysler has held a 51 per cent shareholding in Mercedes-AMG
GmbH. The announcement of the takeover of this specialist vehicle
tuning company, with its headquarters in Affalterbach (near Stuttgart),
brings advantages for both companies.
As Professor Jürgen Hubbert, DaimlerChrysler Board
Member with responsibility for the 'Mercedes-Benz' and 'smart' passenger
car brands, said, The area of sporty high-performance vehicles will continue
to be an impor-tant one in the Passenger Car division. Our close
cooperation with AMG is the best way to ensure this. AMG is not only
a partner with whom we have shared considerable motorsports success over
the years, but also a company that we can use to respond in a very flexible
way to the specific requirements of our customers.
In accordance with an agreement announced in June 1998,
DaimlerChrysler will take over a further 24.1 per cent of Mercedes-AMG
GmbH by the end of the year 2001. The remaining shares will be handed
over by Hans Werner Aufrecht, until now the company's sole proprietor,
by 1 January 2009. With this step-by-step takeover of AMG, DaimlerChrysler
aims to secure the expertise, experience and, of course, the manpower of
a partner whose name, over the years, has become synonymous with superb
quality high-performance vehicles and, espe-cially, with sporty styling.
At the same time, the management of the Mercedes-Benz designo program will
be assigned to Mercedes-AMG GmbH. designo is the name associated with exclusively
equipped Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Within designo, paintwork,
leather upholstery and trim elements can be individually combined to suit
the customer's requirements.
Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, together with Domingos Piedade
joint Managing Director of Mercedes AMG GmbH: We see it as our task
to fulfil those wishes that customers may have which are either not required
or not feasi-ble in larger-scale production. Being a relatively small
company, we are able to react very flexibly to custom-ers' requirements.
The direct links that we have with the engineering, production and sales
and marketing areas of DaimlerChrysler ensure that top Mercedes-Benz quality
is maintained. Our close cooperation with Stuttgart also means that
we can work in parallel to prepare an AMG version of a new Mercedes-Benz
model.
For customers, the cooperation brings the immediate advantage
of being able to order "their" AMG-Mercedes through the Mercedes-Benz sales
organization. The AMG styling package is just as much a part of the
Mer-cedes-Benz price lists as are the current AMG vehicles C 43, C 55,
E 55, S 55, SL 55, CLK 55 and G 55. In 1998 a total of more
than 6,000 C 43 and E 55 models were sold. The most important markets
for AMG vehi-cles are the United States, Germany, Great Britain and Japan.
Since every AMG-Mercedes is a true Mercedes-Benz, the full scope of Mercedes-Benz
service and warranty agreements applies to all AMG products. All new Mercedes-AMG
models also come with the Mercedes-Benz lifelong mobility and corrosion
warranty, mobilo-life.
Mercedes-AMG GmbH thus supports the corporate objective
of offering the customer tailor-made Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles at the
very highest level. As Hubbert says, As the premium brand within
the Daimler-Chrysler Group, Mercedes-Benz has a unique reputation.
By linking AMG directly in to our passenger car division, we are better
placed to reach out to those Mercedes drivers with sporting ambitions.
We shall soon be able to offer every customer the sporty top model, in
terms of both appearance and performance, that he or she is looking for,
in practically every model range. And this is always backed-up by
the Mercedes-Benz name, which vouches for quality and lasting value.
The operational cooperation between DaimlerChrysler and
Mercedes-AMG GmbH will not be affected by the changes in the shareholdings.
As agreed with Stuttgart, both the expertise needed to develop such high-performance
vehicles and the design of particularly sporty products will be based in
Affalterbach.
The production of customers' vehicles will take place,
depending on the extent of the required modifications, either in the appropriate
DaimlerChrysler manufacturing plant or at Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach.
Facilities are available here, as needed, either to build small production
series or to hand-build individual vehicles to the customer's specification.
End of excerpts from DaimlerChrysler press text
For an article of the 1965-1972 S-Class series
300 SEL 6.8 AMG W109.
click here
For an article of the S-Class Sport W220 for
the USA.
click here
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