http://www.germancarfans.com/print.c...3.001/lang/eng

Here's the scary part:

The rumor is that this 6.2 liter (which AMG will market as a 6.3 liter) is going to replace both the supercharged 5.4 liter (S55, E55 and SL55 AMG) and the normally aspirated 5.4 found in the SLK55 and CLK55.

It seems very possible that the new Corvette Z06 might just be outgunned and (undercut on price!) by an upcoming Mercedes SLK63 AMG.

Before anyone scoffs, it should be said that the current SLK55 AMG is more than a match for a current Corvette Z71 roadster - both in price and performance.

 

I'll believe the outgunned part...

Ill believe the undercut part when I see it. Dollars to doughnuts that if it IS cheaper, its within $500.

 

Guess I didn't realize that they had and off road package for Corvette.

 

Yeah man it comes with a 5 inch lift, 4wd and all terrain tires!

 

I certainly beats everything in Nissan's arsenal!

 

How much does a new SLK weigh? According to M-B's website, the SLK350 (V6) weighs 3253 lbs. I'd imagine that adding the V8, bigger wheels/tires, extra luxo junk, etc. would push the weight of an SLK62 over 3400 lbs (maybe approaching 3500). So if the engine makes 5 more hp and 10 less lb-ft than the LS7, in a car that weighs more than the 3150 lb Z06, and will come only with an automatic transmission...

It will be another fast offering from AMG, but I think the Z06 will be just fine. Besides, it isn't like the two are exactly direct competitors...

EDIT: Just looked up the current ('05-'06) SLK55 AMG. IT weighs 3420 lbs (say 150 to 200 more than a C6 Vette), and with the N/A 5.5L, makes 355 hp/379 lb ft, and comes only with the seven speed auto (though the website lists the ratios for the five speed ). The Vette makes 400/400 and comes with a six speed manual.

For reference, the (previous generation) 5 speed auto SLK32 AMG had 349 hp from its supercharged V6, and stayed neck and neck with the 350 hp LS1 C5 convertible. That SLK weighed 3220 lbs, according to M-B/AMG.

 

199kg = 440 lbs

That's a pretty impressive weight for a complex OHC design. It's still about 50 lbs more than an LS7, though.

I'd be interested in the exterior dimensions vs. the LS7.

 

Dressed vs. not dressed is the issue.

Basically, with an engine, you can post whatever numbers you want to post for mass by adding or removing the accesories.

"Fully dressed" used to mean everything necessary for the engine to run except for the battery, radiator, water hoses and fuel lines. A power steering pump or AC compressor would not be included since the engine doesn't need them to run.

 

The 7-speed automatic that Mercedes is currently using is capable of shifting faster and more efficiently than any manual transmission driver recorded from what I've heard. And with the manumatic settings it's probably nearly as effective for road-racing as well.

I don't think this new motor will be a Z06 killer since none of those models will be close to as light, and certainly not nearly as good of handling... but it's still amazing to see Mercedes come out with something that will probably be nearly as fast as the new Z06 for roughly the same price.

Kinda of apples to oranges with a nice comparison in the middle.

 

How many performance automatics don't shift faster than humans?

 

Any car that can be driven faster with a manual when a very talented driver is at the helm than it can with the automatic version would qualify easily. The large majority of cars are still that way in my experience... even if it's only for the edge that parasitic drivetrain loss gives the manual over the auto.

 

That's all well and good but that isn't because of shift speed. Number of gears, less weight, less loss... but that isn't the point:
Now I don't know what shifting more efficiently means, but I do know what shifting faster means.

 

If Mercedes builds this car as fast as a Corvette for Corvette money then it's a sad day for GM.
The Corvette has always had its downsides overlooked by its performance bargain.

 

I bet they will call it the SLK65, regardless of displacement. SLK63 doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

 

The current 355hp SLK55 is pretty quick. It already posts 4.5 sec 0-60 and 12.8 sec 1/4 miles and that's with 355 horses. I can't imagine how much quicker it would be with the new 510hp 6.3L.

As it stands, the current SLK55 carries a $62.5k price tag. I'd be surprised if an SLK63 comes in at that price.