DTM In Your Driveway

There has been a lot of positive buzz surrounding the new Mercedes C-Class, especially the C63 AMG model. The formula is simple: take a compact sedan, drop in a thundering V8, adjust other parts to accomodate, and you're off faster than your kids in the back can scream for mercy. Practicality can be fun too!

Edo Competition seem to agree, although they appear to think that 450 German horses are not enough. They would prefer to have another 100. And so -- the Edo C63 is born. What is truly astonishing here is the fact that with nothing more than a little ECU tuning, intake filter, headers, and high-flow catalytic converters, they have bumped output by 100 horsepower on what is already a built-to-the-max specialty engine. If you know of another naturally aspirated powerplant that can be so easily tweaked, do please let us know. We're having a hard enough time getting an extra 40 (reliable) horsepower from Honda V6 engines, using every N/A trick we know.

Hot on their heels is Kicherer, another prominent Benz booster. They also get very close to the millenium mark in the Power Increase department, along with their interior enhancements and unique wheels. They also includes some exterior carbon bits, including grille, front bumper with LED lighting, and mirror covers. Both tuners dump the now-useless top speed limiter, giving their C63s a new max on the high side of 190mph.

Both Brabus and EvoSport (who extracted an astounding 567hp!) have created their own versions as well, putting so much effort into their modifications that technically they could be considered the C63 AMG Black Series that never was. So if you are needing a family sedan (albeit a small one) and have speed-demon tendencies, look no further than a C63. Well, look a little further . . . at these aftermarket offerings.

Back Streets Option

In all actuality, Mercedes has been involved in DTM racing for quite some time. Back in the 1980s, with the introduction of the W201 Mercedes 190E, specialty tuner AMG (not yet owned by 'Benz) took several and went racing in various championships against their main rival, the E30 BMW M3. In order to qualify, however, AMG had to make a road-going version also. Hence, the 190E 2.3-16V.

As the M3 evolved and added power, Mercedes realized they did too, so they bumped displacement to 2.5 Liters and eventually ended up with over 232hp in the Evolution II model. The engines were designed by Cosworth Engineering, and had a remarkably flat torque curve, making them very flexible within gears.

The body kits fitted to the 16V models enhanced aerodynamics, making these cars very agile and composed on a race course. All versions included a limited-slip differential and a quartet of grippy Recaro seats. One thing of note is the unusual dogleg-pattern shifter -- first gear is down and to the left.

Here in the US, we are naturally stuck with only the 2.3-16V, rated at an extra-low 167hp. What you'll want to do is find yourself a decent example, and then build your own Evolution II. The bodywork is very hard to come by, but the engine tuning is fairly easy -- there are a few places to get yourself a 2.5-Liter stroker kit, for example, and some hotter cams. A few select European parts later, and you have your own street-legal DTM car for very little. Expect to pay close to $9K or $10K for a clean car to start with.