Cars > Mercedes > Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series DTM Safety Car 2012

Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series DTM Safety Car 2012 Review

With the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) starting a few days ago, Mercedes has finally put their latest Safety Car for this season to use. Although the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series received lots of modifications to ensure it meets all the DTM requirements as a Safety Car, many features remain the same as the road-going C63 AMG Couple Black Series.

Under its hood the DTM Safety Car is fitted with an AMG 6.3 liter V8 engine that delivers 517 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly enough, the Safety Car actually delivers 17 more horsepower than the AMG C-Coupe participating in the DTM, can go from 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h). The V8 unit has been coupled with an AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed, double clutch sports transmission with a RACE START system to guarantee fast gear shifting.

Furthermore, although the Safety Car has been fitted with a modified AMG exhaust system, the power transmission, engine cooling system, the braking system, chassis and suspension are exactly the same as those found in the road-going AMG Black Series. According to Mercedes engineers, these areas "have been honed to perfection and did not require any modification".

Nevertheless, the Safety Car has been packed with loads of AMG optional equipment such as the AMG Track package, AMG Exterior Carbon-Fiber package, AMG Aerodynamicspackage and a set of AMG light-alloy wheels.

The AMG Aerodynamics package includes a carbon fiber front-splitter and a carbon fiber rear aerofoil with adjustable blade, whilst the AMG Exterior Carbon-Fiber package includes carbon fiber mirror housings, carbon fiber side still panels and carbon fiber diffuser.

The interior has been only slightly modified and resemblances the production car to a high degree. The only notable changes brought to the interior of the Safety Car include a couple of AMG sport bucket seats, four-point seat belts and an AMG Performance steering wheel wrapped in nappa leather, featuring aluminum gearshift paddles and flattened top and bottom.

Obviously, the Safety Car has been equipped with other DTM specific equipment including a two-way radio system, a TV monitor, a rear camera for a better view of the cars following behind and stroboscope-type flashing LED lights.

The German Touring Car Masters started on 29th of April and the Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series will have to take turns in leading the pack with both Audi and BMW, alternating from race to race.

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A further highlight of the 2012 DTM season in addition to the spectacular new Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé will be the DTM Safety Car: right from the off, C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series will be providing the necessary safety for the world's most popular touring car series. With a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp), this two-seater is the most powerful C-Class of all time. The German Touring Car Masters (DTM) gets underway at the Hockenheimring on 29 April 2012.

The Safety Car is deployed under the direction of the German Motorsport Association (DMSB), which is responsible for implementing safety measures, ensuring compliance with safety standards and discharging the attendant official sporting functions in accordance with the DTM rules. The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series Safety Car driven by racing driver Jürgen Kastenholz (44) is intended to ensure maximum safety for racing drivers, spectators and track marshals in case of dangerous situations, such as extreme weather conditions, accidents or other incidents. In response to a radio message from the race organisers, the Safety Car enters the track and leads the DTM field around the circuit until normal racing can be resumed.

The most powerful C-Class of all time stands for spectacular design, technology transfer from the field of motorsport and driving dynamics of the very highest calibre. As such, the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series only required modification to a few points of detail for deployment as the DTM Safety Car. The most striking feature distinguishing it from the series production version is the aerodynamically optimised light bar on the roof. Energy-efficient, fast-response LEDs in green and orange keep the DTM racing drivers informed of the current situation.

Green: the two central green lights on the front and rear are always active when the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series enters the field at the beginning of a Safety Car phase. Continuous green is the signal for all DTM drivers to overtake the Safety Car.

Orange: as soon as the Safety Car is in position in front of all DTM vehicles, the green LEDs are switched off and the orange LEDs are activated. The flashing orange lights at the outer ends of the light bar indicate that overtaking is absolutely prohibited.
The stroboscope-like flashing LED lights on the front and rear remain active throughout the Safety Car phase. The license plate with Safety Car lettering which is illuminated by LEDs on the boot lid provides for better visibility in poor weather.

Engine, power transmission, chassis, suspension and brake system corresponding to series production variant

The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine corresponds to the series-production engine: with a maximum output of 380 kW (517 hp) and maximum torque of 620 Newton metres it even tops the roughly 367 kW (500 hp) V8 engine in the Mercedes-AMG C-Coupé which is being used in the DTM. The high-speed naturally aspirated engine enables acceleration to 100 km/h from a standing start in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (electronically limited). With the spectators at the race track and the TV audience in mind, the C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series Safety Car is fitted with a modified AMG sports exhaust system. The special rear silencer guarantees a distinctive AMG V8 sound.

Engine cooling, power transmission, chassis and suspension, brake system – these areas have been honed to perfection and did not require any modification. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission with four drive programmes, double-declutching function and RACE START guarantees direct and fast gear-shifting. As is customary in motorsport and typical for a Black Series model, the AMG sports suspension is designed as a coil-over suspension. It covers a broad range of adjustment options for an individual race track set-up. The standard-fit AMG rear-axle differential lock with locking effect in acceleration and deceleration mode combines with the 3-stage ESP® for reliable traction. The AMG high-performance braking system featuring motorsport-tested compound brake disks at the front offers extremely short stopping distances and fade-resistant deceleration performance.

Optional equipment from the AMG Performance Studio

The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series DTM Safety Car is equipped with the AMG Track package, the AMG Aerodynamics package, the AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package and forged AMG light-alloy wheels. The AMG Track package comprises active rear axle gear cooling and sports tyres. The radiator is positioned in front of the diffuser insert in the rear apron, where it effectively takes in the air stream. The specially developed Dunlop Sport Maxx Race sports tyres in size 255/35 R 19 at the front and 285/30 R 19 at the rear are fitted on forged AMG wheels which are painted matt black with a high-sheen rim flange.

The AMG Aerodynamics package includes so-called flics and a functionally designed genuine carbon-fibre front splitter on the front apron, plus a fixed carbon-fibre rear aerofoil with adjustable blade. All three components provide the vehicle with a sharper profile while optimising its aerodynamic balance. The AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package covers exterior mirror housings, the inserts in the side sill panels and a diffuser insert in genuine carbon fibre. All optional equipment items come from the AMG Performance Studio and are available ex-factory for every C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series.

Functional race-track atmosphere in the interior

The interior also corresponds to the series production model, with a few exceptions. The two AMG sports bucket seats ensure optimum lateral support for driver and co-driver. In view of the intended deployment on the race track, four-point seat belts are used. Optimum control of the vehicle is guaranteed by the AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA with flattened top and bottom rim sections and aluminium gearshift paddles.

AMG carbon-fibre trim featuring the "AMG Black Series" logo underscores the functional race-track atmosphere. For communication with the race organisers, the Safety Car is equipped with a two-way radio system and TV monitor. The camera located next to the rear license plate provides the co-driver with a view of the DTM cars following the Safety Car. Under the monitor there are four buttons in blue, green, orange and silver for operating the light bar, the stroboscope-type flashing LED lights and the horn.

DTM Safety Car provided by Mercedes-AMG since 2000

Mercedes-AMG has been providing the Safety Car ever since the beginning of the "new" DTM in 2000, alternating with Audi from race to race – and since 2012 with BMW also. In the Formula 1 World Championship, an SLS AMG is deployed as an Official F1 Safety-Car and a C 63 AMG Estate serves as an Official F1 Medical Car.

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