Watch as a 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL600 knocks beats a Lexus RC-F and a C7 Corvette.
When the 2003 Mercedes-Benz CL600 hit the market with a twin-turbocharged 5.5L V8 packing 493 horsepower and 590lb-ft of torque, it was one of the most powerful production cars on the road. For comparison, the 2003 Corvette Z06 offered 405hp and 400lb-ft of torque, the 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra offered 390hp and 390lb-ft of torque and the 2003 Dodge Viper offered 500hp and 525lb-ft of torque – making the twin turbo CL more powerful than the strongest cars from the American automakers.
However, in the 14 years since the CL600 came to market, performance cars have gotten far more powerful, leaving us to wonder how this boosted Benz coupe would fair in a race against modern competition. As these videos show, even after all of these years, the CL600 can comfortably battle some of the best performance cars on the market.
In the video above, the 2003 Mercedes-Benz is taking on a Lexus RC-F. The RC-F is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 that delivers 467hp and 389lb-ft of torque, making it one of Toyota’s most powerful vehicles. Not surprisingly, the difference in power allows the Benz to easily walk away from the RC-F in a high speed highway roll race without much effort.
C7 from a Dig
Next, the video below shows the Mercedes taking on a C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The Vette is powered by the new LT1 with 460 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque, so it is lacking in power compared to the CL600, but the C7 is considerably lighter and that could make the difference – but it doesn’t.
This race take place from a stop, with the Mercedes immediately jumping out to a lead on the third honk. As the race goes on, the CL600 just keeps on walking away, beating the new Corvette badly from a dig.
"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.
