As performance cars continue to become more and more powerful the point of diminishing returns comes up pretty quick when they are sending all that power to just 2 wheels. What’s the point of having 500-700 or even more horsepower if all you do is spin the tires when you try and use it. In the sports car world, the Nissan GT-R (545 HP), Porsche 911 Turbo S (530HP) and Lamborghini Aventador (700HP) are the kings, running 0-60 MPH in under 3 seconds with ease due to their AWD systems. Competitors like the Corvette ZR1 (638HP), Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (662 HP) and Dodge Viper (640HP) are left for dead trying to play catch up while spinning their tires.

In the sports sedan world all of the best in class performers have gone with turbocharged engines that have massive amounts of torque and power. Audi is the only one that has all wheel drive as of now, but it’s best performer is the huge and very heavy Audi S8. Even with it’s large size and weight, it’s the S8′s all wheel drive and twin turbo V8 pumping put 520+ HP (we think they are way underrating it) is allowing for 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and high 11′s in the quarter mile at 118 MPH. This is enough to beat out the current Mercedes and BMW offerings, the M5 and E63.

Mercedes-Benz is finally coming around and is set to offer it’s first all wheel drive AMG sedan with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic. Motor Trend spent some time with an E63 test mule and experienced the AMG Launch Control system catapulting the new AMG from 0-60 MPH in 3.4 seconds. Torque is split 33/67 front/rear at all times which is great for all around driving although we would rather see an active system like the Nissan GT-R where it can vary the distribution at will.

We’re expecting this new AMG to be well into the 11′s in the 1/4 mile and into the 10′s after some tuning and boost increases. We’ve already seen the AMG built 5.5L V8 BiTurbo motor put down 620 horsepower to the wheels on RENNTech’s dyno which is well over 700 HP at the engine. Hopefully the AMG 4Matic drivetrain is up to the task to allow for 10 second sedans running with the GT-Rs at the drag strip. We haven’t heard anything about an all wheel drive M5 or M3, but we hope BMW follows along, if not, they’ll be literally left behind along with those ancient Vettes, Vipers and Shebys.

A RENNtech modified Mercedes-Benz SLR ran an amazing 9.76 @ 140.8 MPH at Palm Beach International Raceway last night capturing the records for being the quickest and fastest modern Mercedes in the world. This SLR was coming off the line super hard on Hoosier slicks with a 1.42 60′ time. We are waiting for the VBOX data to confirm, but we estimate this launch puts the SLR at around 2.2 seconds from 0-60 MPH.

Power for this SLR was bumped up around 160 horsepower over stock with the host of RENNtech modifications. In stock form the SLR puts down around 520 horsepower to the wheels and this one put down over 680 wheel horsepower after the modifications. Using a 16% driveline loss that puts this SLR around 810 horsepower. Take a look at the pictures, timeslips and video below:

Mercedes-Benz SLR RENNtech runs 9.7 @ 140 MPH Pictures, Timeslip, Video

Source: RoadTestTV

Here is a heads up drag race between a Lamborghini LP550-2 vs Mercedes CLS63 AMG BiTurbo.  The Lamborghini LP550-2 is a special edition of the Gallardo that is setup for rear wheel drive only powered by a V10 putting out 550HP.   The CLS63 AMG is the latest AMG from Mercedes-Benz with a 5.5L V8 BiTurbo motor putting out 518 HP.   The LP550 stomped on the CLS63 pretty easily which would be expected with it’s lighter weight and additional power. The LP550 ran 11.96 @ 123 MPH vs the CLS63 running 12.5 @ 116 MPH.  Take a look at the pictures and video below.

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG BiTurbo






Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2

RENNtech has been working on turning up the power on AMG’s latest powerhouse the 5.5 liter V8 Twin Turbo (BiTurbo as per MB).  In stock form the 2012 CLS63 AMG with the new motor put down 473 horsepower and 468 ft-lbs of torque to the rear wheels on a DynoJet.   After the RENNtech ECU turning the power was bumped up to 569 horsepower and 624 ft-lbs of torque at the rear wheels.

Using a conservative 15% driveline loss that puts this CLS63 at 669 horsepower which should be enough power for running low 11′s in the 1/4 mile with a decent launch and good traction.  We look forward to seeing these cars hitting the track soon, especially when the E63 comes out with this motor and a lot less weight than the CLS63.

Take a look at the Dyno results below:

Source: RoadTestTV, RENNtech.

Motor Trend setup an amazing line up of cars for an all out king of the 1/4 mile drag race at an airstrip. The Nissan GT-R with it’s 530HP V6 Twin Turbo and superb all wheel drive launch control beat them all to the finish.

Nissan GT-R: 11.2 @ 121.8 MPH
Ferrari 458 Italia: 11.3 @ 125.6 MPH
Audi R8 GT: 11.5 @ 125.1 MPH
Mercedes SLS AMG: 11.7 @ 124.1 MPH
Lexus LFA: 11.9 @ 123.7 MPH
Chevrolet Corvette Z06/Z07: 11.9 @ 122.5 MPH
Porsche 911 GT3 RS: 11.9 @ 120.7 MPH
Ford Mustang BOSS 302 Laguna Seca: 12.4 @ 115 MPH
Porsche Cayman R: 12.7 @ 111 MPH
BMW 1 Series M: 12.8 @ 110.2 MPH
Lotus Evora S: 12.9 @109.9 MPH

No race is perfect, but we would have liked to have seen Porsche represented by the 911 Turbo S and Chevrolet with the ZR1. While the Nissan GT-R did win, it’s lucky the race didn’t go any further as it would have been passed on by some of the lighter and more powerful cars.

Here is a RENNtech modified Mercedes McLaren SLR running 10.4 @ 133 MPH at Palm Beach International Raceway. This SLR is pushing over 600HP to the wheels by upping the boost pressure from the supercharger, a custom exhaust system along with cooling upgrades and tuning. Take a look at the timeslip, pictures and video below:

Mercedes-Benz SLR RENNtech

GTBoard put up a video of a 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo with the PDK transmission running heads up from a roll against the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series. While the race was very close, it was surprising that the Porsche was able to jump ahead of the Benz each time when the race started, especially since the Mercedes V12 Twin Turbo Engine makes a lot more torque than the Porsche’s 6 cylinder twin turbo.

After the initial 1 car or so jump of the Porsche, the SL65 Black Series hangs on and eventually starts pulling on the Porsche, although before it can pass they run out of runway and the race is over.

Take a look at this stealth looking 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 running a very quick 10.6 @ 125.9 MPH at Maryland International Raceway with a Kleemann supercharger pumping out 9psi. Additional modifications include a custom cold air intake using one of the headlights, Kleemann headers, full custom exhaust system and a PTE camshaft along with a larger throttle body.

While the 1/4 mile time logs this CLK55 as the 2nd quickest street Mercedes around, the launch shown in the video, along with it’s 1.51 60′ time, breaks the Mercedes 60′ record by quite a bit. This CLK55 launches VERY hard using a higher stall converter, Quaife rear differential and Mickey Thompson ET street slicks/tires. Congrats to Ahmad for building this monster Mercedes! Take a look at the timeslip, pictures and video by following the links below.

2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG runs 10.6 @ 125.9 MPH

RENNtech has been tuning up the power on the latest Black Series car from Mercedes-Benz, the SL65 AMG Black Series. In stock form, this SL65 BS put down 563 horsepower and 696 ft-lbs of torque to the rear wheels. Using a 16% driveline loss that puts the stock SL65 BS at right at the 670HP quoted from Mercedes.

RENNtech then custom tuned the ECU to allow for additional boost, upgraded the intercooler system with larger pumps and installed a 100% locking limited slip differential. The end result was 630HP and 765 ft-lbs of torque at the wheels. Using the same 16% driveline loss, the RENNtech SL65 BS ends up with with 750HP and 910 ft-lbs of torque.

After speaking with RENNtech we learned that they are expecting even more power and torque will be available after some additional tuning time is spent with the car. We’re looking forward to see the next set of results and hope to see a 800+HP Mercedes hitting the drag strips and road courses.

Click below to view the SL65 BS dyno sheet, video and pictures.

Here is a video from Top Gear showing a closed street race between two monster exotics, the Lamborghini LP 670-4 vs Mercedes Benz SLR 722. It was a really close race with a surprising ending….