Jalopnik: clk

The Louis Vuitton Mercedes CLK Must Die

Ray Wert — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:45:00 EDT

Here's a custom CLK spotted in Charlotte that never needed to happen. Ever. Really. Never. In fact, kill this one now. Somebody. Please! (Hat tip to Cosmotion!)

Custom Color-Changing Mercedes CLK: Awful Beyond Words

Ben Wojdyla — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:30:00 EST

As commenters on the condition automotive, we see things great and terrible. This custom Mercedes Benz CLK on eBay is by a wide margin the most awful thing we've seen in a very long time.

We don't even know where to begin. We're actually in physical pain here. According to the seller on eBay, this abortion is the result of three-and-a-half months of solid work at California-based Oxnard Customs. This... thing, is based on a 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK320 and boasts every tasteless, tacky, unnecessary customization imaginable, and all are taken to the extreme.

Among the most offensive customizations are totally incomprehensible body modifications hiding an animated LED light show, six, count em, six installed video screens, "custom" painted interior bits, the requisite lambo-like scissor doors, and more mesh inserts than you can shake a stick at. Even normally okay performance upgrades like the Brabus brakes and wheels feel disgusting by association.
Unsurprisingly, the car didn't even come close to reserve, and no wonder — who would pay to drive a car that looks like a stormtrooper tangled with a clown convention. To whoever commissioned this car, may God have mercy on your soul. [eBay Listing]

2009 Mercedes Benz CLK Has The Snake Eyes

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EDT

The lens jockeys at KGP have managed to snag us a darn good look at the upcoming 2009 Mercedes Benz CLK. While we've seen the shape of the car before we haven't seen the new split-design headlights and the very bizarre trunk lid design. According to our spies, that headlight styling will be migrating across the Benzie lineup and acting as the new snake eyes for the E-class next. What we're not so sure about is the butt-end of this thing. The Germans may be having a tail war.

Take a look a that 'protrusion' poking off the trunk. It's not really a spoiler but not quite a Bangle-butt; however, it is strange looking. Unless the lid is plastic or composite, that's one hell of a stamping draw to make the thing. Also, we're not sure how we feel about the styled-by-Duplo tail lights. They really don't go well with the smooth style of the rest of the car. Funny, the spy didn't say anything about 'em in the report:

A new Mercedes CLK prototype has shown itself in Germany, giving us our first unobstructed look at the new coupe's split-headlight design. A similar (perhaps identical) headlight design is expected on Mercedes' next E-class. But even on the very latest E-class prototypes — which are running around with much less camouflage than this CLK — we haven't seen such a revealing look at the front lights.

Remploy Bosses Rewarded With Mercedes For Firing Disabled Workers

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EDT

Okay, that's an admittedly sensationalist headline, but completely true even without context. Remploy is a British company in the business of hiring out disabled workers to jobs where they can be effective. It was incorporated after the WW2 to manage all the disabled workers now within Her Majesties court. Until recently things had been going along dandy with 5,000 people in their employ across many plants in Britain. That is until a couple of weeks ago, when the company laid off half of the total workforce.

Despite the seemingly drastic measures, and here's the rub, the upper management will be driving around in Mercedes Benz CLK's for their hard work. The total corporate fleet of 443 cars figures in at about 8 million British pounds, with an average vehicle price of 19,900 Quid. We're no experts in labor relations, but we're betting this really chuffs the knickers of all those out of work disabled limeys. Bet there's about the be a big row over this one. [This IsLondon]

2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK

Ray Wert — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST

The boys over at the Road that is not only bendy, it's Winding have snagged themselves some shots of what they're told is the 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK out on the mean streets o' Stuttgart. They've also been told the new CLK will look "more sporty" and "more luxurious" — and the new model will still be built off the C-class platform. So rather than "aluminum und shteel," is the new CLK "shporty und luxoorious?" Maybe, but only if we get the hard-top version. [via Winding Road]

2009 Mercedes CLK

Ray Wert — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:30:00 EDT

It would appear, based on the shot above (and gallery below), Mercedes is actively working on the next generation CLK. It looks to be bigger and longer than the outgoing model as this new CLK (and we're assuming, CLK convertible) — which we'd expect as we're hearing it will be based on the bigger and longer new C-class sedan. It goes without saying, however, that refinements will probably need to be done to that chassis to meet expectations of the somewhat more ambitious coupé-drivers of the world. We're also hearing that the frame won't be the only bit o' metal the CLK will take from the new C-class. We've heard the engines will also come from the C-class line-up and will include a V8 for a CLK 500. It's expected the newly sexed up coupé will arrive at dealers in summer 2009 with the soft-top following just a few months later.

Race For Me, Stuttgart! More Packages From AMG

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:02:00 EDT

Expansion of AMG's design studio continues unabated, with the division introducing new, track-day aero and brake packages for the CLS, SLK and SL Benz models — upgrades the house-brand tuning shop will slot into its "custom" series. They're on a major push to win some of the Euros they've ceeded to independent tuners over the past decades, though this superficial stuff is only one in a multithreaded strategy of aftermarket add-ons, special editions and DTM supercars. Available kit includes body kits, cross-drilled ventilated discs and various manner of alloy jewelry. Motor Authority offers some high-res imagery.

AMG provides new packages for improved racetrack performance [Motor Authority]

Spy Photos: Not a DTM, It's the CLK 63 Black Series

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:24:05 EDT

World Car Fans sets the record straight. Yesterday, word was this spy shot represented the facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM. Now, spies say it's not the DTM, but one of the AMG boys' new special edition models — the CLK 63 Black Series. If you'll recall, the Black Series will represent the division's uprated and otherwise tricked-out versions of traditional AMG models. (The SLK 55 AMG Black Series is the first of such models to arrive.) This CLK 63 will likely have a 530-hp version of the 6.2-liter V8, with 19" wheels, AMG adjustable sports suspension, composite brakes, and other such accoutrements. No word on the next DTM model, but we're expecting to have to wait until Frankfurt 2007 to see it.

NEW SPY INFO: Mercedes CLK 63 AMG Black Series [World Car Fans]

Spy Photos: Mercedes CLK DTM

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:08:59 EDT

Mercedes' AMG expansion inevitably will involve making its highfalutin' DTM-series hardware more available to the world's motoring rich. Building 100 of the supercars at a clip can't possibly satisfy demand for the DTM cars' particular blend of reckless abandon and German refinement. Thus, the next CLK DTM will reportedly come in higher quantity, with a new, less conspicuous design (no, officer, I was not going 225 mph. You must have me confused with someone else). Horsepower will match the first, limited edition CLK DTM, at around 600, with hints from management of a turbocharger tacked on the 6.3-liter V8 for an extra measure of insanity.

SPY PHOTOS: Mercedes CLK DTM Facelift [World Car Fans]

Related:
Frankfurt Premiere: Mercedes DTM Cabrio [internal]

Tiffany Twisted: New Mercedes-Benz CLK Gets More Power, New AMG Kit

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 08:33:41 EDT

Forgive the lack of timeliness, but we had to mention the new Mercedes CLK550, or we'd have risked very stern e-mail messages from our wide readership of ladies who luncheon. Said ladies will be pleased with some extra fris e under the hood, in the form of Merc's 5.5-liter V8 — replacing the 5.0-liter mill in their current rides. That'll propel them to the Zodiac at Neiman Marcus 0.7 second quicker — giving them more time to discipline the house girl for substituting yogurt for creme fraiche in the salmon sauce. Horsepower's up to 382 and torque to 391 ft-lbs, which will give the hubby even less of a chance to dodge a drunken, tearful hole-shot in the garage. Oh, and the AMG appearance package — leather sport seats, a sport helm with paddle shifters and aluminum sport pedals on the interior; metallic paint, 18" alloys, body kit, side skirts and a spoiler and chrome AMG exhaust — is to die.

Related:
Dealership: This CLK -GTR Sucks [internal]

Mercedes CLS 63 and CLK 63 AMG Models to Debut in Geneva

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 09:49:45 EST

AMG's naturally aspirated (gezundheit) 6.3-liter V8 — its first powerplant not to be derived from an existing Mercedes mill — is debuting in a couple more models at the Geneva show later this month. The company will unveil its CLS 63 and CLK 63 at the show, both of which will get the SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC transmission, 155mph limited top speed and a kiss on the cheek by the world's motoring press. Naturally.

CLS63 And CLK63 Make World Debut in Geneva [eMercedesBenz]

AutoBild Specs the New Mercedes-Benz CLK

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 13:11:26 EST

The famous Huckfeldt, AutoBild's conjurer of next-gen car-model imagery is back — wherever did he go? — with his interpretation of the next Mercedes CLK. Expected to debut at the 2007 Frankfurt show for the 2008 model year, the CLK is reportedly longer and slinkier than the current generation, with a range of engines expected, right on up to the new AMG 6.3-liter V8 beast. Zee Huckfeldt schpies are der best in the business — far more accurate than our anglo-germanic linguistics.

AutoBild and the Next CLK [Eurocar Blog]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2007 CL63 AMG [internal]

Frankfurt Premiere: Mercedes DTM Cabrio

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:04:53 EDT

We returned from the Frankfurt auto show today, having walked a total of 75,000 miles between carmakers' salons, eaten close to 16 cups of The Official Beef Vegetable Soup of the International Motoring Press, drunk more Bitburgs than we're proud of, and risen at pre-dawn to catch a flight back to Newe Yorke, we turn to eMercedesBenz for word on Benz's new, DTM Cabrio burner. Yes, a cabrio upstaged the company's new 6.3-liter V8-powered M63 and R63 SUVs.

Mercedes Introduces World's Fastest Open-Top Four-Seater [eMercedesBenz]

Related:
More AMG news [internal]