Watch this tuned 2005 Mercedes-Benz AMG CL65 blast down the drag strip in the 10-second range.
The 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG is an awesome machine. The twin-turbocharged, 6.0L V12 delivers 604 horsepower and 738lb-ft of torque, allowing this sleek AMG coupe to blast from 0-60 in less than four seconds while covering the quarter mile in the high-11-second range in stock form. However, like most forced induction performance cars, a little tuning goes a long way, and the 2005 CL65 in the video above is excellent proof of how much quicker you can make them with fairly minor modifications.
This video was originally posted in the Kill Stories section of the forum by member Dr Matt, who shared this video of his 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG from his own YouTube account (Matt Huettl). This car has a Eurocharged ECU/TCU tune, a resonator delete, a homemade cold air intake, a Quaife limited slip differential and a set of M/T drag radials. So he freed up the exhaust and intake a bit along with adding a bit more traction, and the results are impressive.
The Tuned CL65 Goes Racing
On the first run, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG has some traction issues, laying down long strips of rubber as it headed down track and the lack of traction led to a slower quarter mile time of 11.61 at 124 miles per hour. That isn’t bad by any stretch, but for this car, it isn’t very good.
The second run appears to be a bracket race, with the CL65 dialing 10.80 against a far slower Chevy truck. Unfortunately, after giving the truck a healthy head start, the Benz redlights, but it still runs a 10.78 at 127 miles per hour – more than a second quicker than the published stock times for one of these AMG coupes.
After that race with the truck, this 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG beats a race-ready classic Camaro, a very slow Scion, a Mazdaspeed 6 and a Dodge Challenger – running in the 10.7 range in every single race with a best (in this video) of 10.73 at 127 miles per hour.
That is 10.70s from a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG with a tune, some exhaust work, some intake work, a better rear differential and sticky tires – which is mighty impressive.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
