c55 AMg vs CLK550
CLK550: 382 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 391 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm
The advertised 0-60 on the C55 is 4.9. For the CLK550, it's 5.1.
If this was a simple drag race, then the C55 should barely win, but if it's a road race, I suspect the higher torque at lower RPM's, along with the CLK550's 7-speed gearbox would win.
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Not likely - the CLK550 outperforms the CLK55. There was a R&T or C&R or M/T comparo that they did when the CLK550 came out. It wasn't a "spanking", but the CLK550 bested the CLK55. On paper, they have identical 0-60 times, but again, the higher torque/hp and faster-shifting 7-speed in the 550 wins (your CLK55 engine is identical in specs to the C55).
Now, don't confuse this with other "55" AMG models like the E55, SL55, CL55 or S55, since those are all supercharged and pumping out 500+/- hp.

Yes, the CLK550 has more HP (382 @ 6000rpm vs 362 @ 5750rpm) and more torque (391 lb-ft @2800-4800rpm vs 376 lb-ft @ 4000rpm). However, the CLK550 has a heavier curb weight than the C55 (3720 lbs vs 3540 lbs).
For a straight line drag race, the CLK550 may have an edge because of more power, but the C55 has the advantage with regards to weight. Some of you claim that the CLK550's non-AMG 7 speed transmission shifts faster than the AMG Speedshift 5 speed transmission that the C55 has. I don't buy it, unless you show me some documentation. As far as I know, the C55's Speedshift AMG transmission in S and M modes shifts 35% faster than non-AMG slushboxes.
And on a road coarse (with turns), I would put my money on the C55 being faster with regards to laptimes as the AMG tuned chassis has higher skidpad grip and slalom speeds, ESP retuned to mimic a mechanical LSD, and a transmission that allows for complete manual control in M mode.
I'm not saying the CLK550 is not faster in a straight line, but I find it hard to believe that it will "destroy" a C55.
I actually can't find any road test of the CLK550 from Road & Track, Car & Driver, or Motortrend. Please post some objective test numbers if you have them.
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; Feb 27, 2012 at 11:06 PM.




Let me guess.....you own a C55.
I think the most benefit from a straight line performance up to top speed might be the 7-speed vs the 5-speed because of the gearing. I would think with the 7-speed, you always in a better power band then the 5-speed on every gears shifting. It kindna like changing out the gear ratio on the diff. can give you that .5 sec. quicker







