The CLS 63 AMG S with RaceChip Ultimate - Luxury Performance with 780 lb-ft
From Production Line to Customization
An old proverb states that “the perfect is the enemy of the good”. This is exactly what these German premium manufacturers had in mind when they suddenly began, many years ago, to give their production models RS-line, M and AMG fuel-injection performance enhancements. Here, brave Sedans are transformed into brute horsepower monsters. But, of course, there are certainly other methods of achieving engine optimisation.
That’s why we chose the elegant CLS top model made in Alfaterbach: the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S. The optics, finishing and equipment are worthy of special mention, without a doubt. But the real highlight is under the hood. A modern V8 BiTurbo, with 5.5 liters of cubic capacity, handmade and high quality and centered around the AMG philosophy of "one man - one engine". We feel the excitement as we start it up. The seductive sound of the four-pipe exhaust system hints at tremendous acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. This is made possible by the vehicle’s 577 hp, with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. This is all fired up on the asphalt by a powerful 4-wheel drive system with limited slip differential.
Torque? Four Digits.
The car is, to make it short, a stimulation for all the senses. There is really nothing left to improve. Or is there? Well, when adopting a particularly enthusiastic driving style, the unladen weight of the nearly two-ton vehicle becomes apparent. And if your wallet allows you to spend over USD 100,000 there is still unfortunately some luxury competition out there for this vehicle. Not only the Dodge Charger Hellcat, for example, but also the Audi RS7 Sportback, or the BMW M6 Gran Coupé, with their 560 hp and upwards. Nevertheless, to set the record straight, we have given a CLS one of our RaceChip Ultimates.
This takes us back to our theory of “the perfect is the enemy of the good”. We put the CLS 63 AMG S to the test and, as expected, it delivered over 577 hp. But our initial tests already has shown that the 5.5l V8 engine still had extensive power reserves, leaving room for further improvements . So we set ourselves an elaborate task: to optimize our software in order to gradually reach perfection for the engine of the AMG. The result was a customized RaceChip Ultimate, which helps the car achieve sublime and unique performance levels for its class. Indeed, our final performance test fulfilled our expectations: the Mercedes, thanks to the RaceChip Ultimate, boasted over 706 hp, with a maximum torque of 780 lb-ft. The car has thus finally arrived in the premier league of the automotive class. We will no longer be hitting the road in Ingolstadt or Munich, but rather in Maranello or Sant'Agata Bolognese! After the very first red light, the acceleration is already pushing us back into our seat, while also putting a big smile on our faces. But the AMG can still do much more with a RaceChip Ultimate. Due to the extremely high torque, short bursts of speed and accelerating out of corners are a pure pleasure. You will suddenly forget the weighty struggle with the CLS. And even though you can speed up to 186 mph with the AMG Driver's Package, the RaceChip now pushes the car even further to its limits.
Conclusion & performance chart
We are proud to say that our 100% “Made In Germany” RaceChip acts as the perfect complement to this masterpiece of German engineering.
Just a few minutes after installing our Plug&Drive solution, the Swabian boost of an additional 129hp and 190 lb-ft kicked in.
There are small cars that would be satisfied with just the added power this engine gained! And bear in mind: this boost came solely from the natural power reserves of the engine. This improvement costs only USD 699 - not even 7 pounds per unit of additional horsepower. This is chip tuning of the highest level.
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