That haven’t exactly been idling since then. Mercedes has long enjoyed a lucrative and productive racing career over the years, and today, its cars are some of the most technologically advanced on the market. Its Formula 1 team is also doing exceptionally well this year, winning every race so far but one (the Canadian Grand Prix) — that’s eight out of nine races, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Racing aside, Mercedes’s vehicles are arguable the finest, fastest, and most opulent they’ve ever been. Together with its performance partner AMG, Mercedes has been doing its part to ensure that the industry stays on its toes as far as craftsmanship, speed, performance, and luxury are concerned.
Here, we’ve listed out some of the fastest Mercedes vehicles to have existed. We’ve left out concept cars, one-offs, third-party modified vehicles (things like Brabus or Mansory), and SUVs (keep it cars only, since the SUVs — though fast — don’t really compete on the same level). As a side note, we took into account top speeds, acceleration (0-60), and horsepower to rank the following models; therefore, higher horsepower may not imply a faster car. Check out what we found after the jump.
These are impressive figures by today’s standards, so imagine what it meant nearly 30 years ago back in 1986. There’s a small fin on the rear deck, and the fender flares have been widened to welcome a set of special AMG wheels. Older Mercedes had a knack for being heavy, cumbersome luxury barges, but the Hammer would have you thinking otherwise. Everything about the car is effortless, as Harris demonstrates while flicking it around a corner in the wet as if it was a Miata or a WRX. It’s not one of AMG’s most well-known models, but it certainly helped jumpstart a new era of German performance cars.
17. Mercedes CLA45 AMG
It’s the smallest car in Mercedes’s fleet, and also the smallest engine made by AMG: a 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-four. But good things come in small packages: the CLA45 produces 355 horsepower, and because of its small stature, it can hit 62 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds, and on its way to a 167-mile per hour top speed with the optional AMG driver’s package (it’s 155 otherwise).This puts the CLA45 ahead of the Hammer, which lends testament to how power-dense today’s small engines are. Though its compact nature is ideal for urban areas and likely makes for an absolute blast on track days, it’s far from the fastest car produced by Benz — but at under $50,000, it’s also the least expensive AMG available.
The party piece of the CLK Black Series is that fantastic engine note — growl, really, as “note” doesn’t convey the same sense of tire destruction that the the ungodly noise implies. The CLK Black Series was actually the street-legal, emissions-sanitized version of the CLK Pace Car for Formula 1, and helped set the tone for all the Black Series vehicles that have since followed.
15. Mercedes C63 Edition 507
Mercedes decided that the 451 horsepower C63 AMG just wasn’t quite there yet, and as such, it commissioned the C63 Edition 507, which has — not surprisingly — 507 horsepower. Zero to 60 is supposedly dealt with in a scant 4.1 seconds by Mercedes’s estimates, three-tenths quicker than the standard C63, but Car & Driver has its doubts — instead noting that it will likely be far quicker, in the 3.6 second range, by its projections.What makes this more impressive is that the C63 Edition 507 is Mercedes’s smallest sedan next to the CLA, yet it boasts more horsepower and equal torque to that of the new Corvette Stingray. However, it’ll cost more — somewhere between the $60,000 base C63 and the $108,000 (now defunct) C63 Black Series, so somewhere in the $80,000-$90,000 ballpark.
14. Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series
As fast as the Edition 507 is, the C63 AMG Black Series rules the C-Class roost– thanks to a three horsepower advantage over the 507. This brings its total to 510 horsepower for you non-math majors out there, and it’s saddled alongside 457 pound-feet of gut-wrenching torque.This equates to a zero-60 sprint of 4.2 seconds (but remember that Mercedes’s estimates tend to be quite conservative), and flat-out, it’ll be doing 155 due to a limiter. Sadly, the model was only available for the 2012 model year, but with the new generation of C-Class vehicles on deck, the minds at AMG may use it as an opportunity to revive the badge. Consider our fingers are crossed.
13. Mercedes CL63 AMG
The CL Class is a boat-like coupe that embodies Mercedes opulence at its finest (short of, possibly, the Pullman limousines). It starts – starts – at $116,600, for the base model. The CL63, then, begins at a lofty $154,600 — and that’s not even the top rung on the CL ladder. For that money, though, you get 536 horsepower courtesy of a brilliant 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8, which is paired with a massive 590 pound-feet of torque.The result is a leather-clad, two-door missile that can reach 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds (remember, this is a 4,650 in its base trim). So what else comes with that price tag? Well, just about everything — this luxury barge comes with virtually all the accoutrements that Mercedes can offer, from all the latest safety tech to heated and ventilated seats.
12. Mercedes CLK DTM
It’s safe to say that Mercedes had a lot of fun with the CLK Class while it was around. The CLK DTM was one of those experiments — built in conjunction with Mercedes-AMG’s racing partner, H.W.A. GmbH. If those huge vented fended flares don’t tell you anything, we will: It churns out 582 horsepower from its 5.5-liter supercharged V8. That’s enough to send it to 60 in 3.8 seconds, and the top speed is “limited” to 200.The car was limited to 100 units when it was released in 2005, and each sold before they hit the dealership floors at an atmospheric $250,000 a piece ($304,000 in today’s dollars) — though none of them made it to the U.S., at least legally. It comes with adjustable coil-over suspension, a multi-disc limited-slip differential, and the ASR and ESP have had their upper thresholds raised, Road & Track said at the time.
11. Mercedes SLS AMG GT
The SLS AMG was designed first and foremost to give the likes of Porsche and Ferrari a run for their money, and it did so quite well. Now in its final year of production (it’s being lovingly dropped from the Mercedes portfolio), Mercedes-AMG is bidding adieu with a Final Edition (pictured), which retails for about $221,000.The SLS AMG was the first vehicle fully designed exclusively by AMG. As you’d expect, then, it’s a characteristically brutal, no-holds-barred coupe. Zero to 60 comes in 3.6 seconds, and the naturally aspirated 6.3 liter V8 produces a low, guttural roar that signals that this car means business. But as we’ll soon see, the SLS AMG was only a foundation for more ambitious ideas.
10. Mercedes CL65 AMG
Consider this the predecessor to the forthcoming S-Class Coupe: the CL65, like is smaller sibling, is a part of Mercedes’s large coupe offerings, though this one adds nearly 100 horsepower and shaves 0.2 seconds off the jaunt from 0 to 60 (which for the CL65 is 4.2 seconds). It uses AMG’s excellent 6.0 liter biturbo V12 to get the job done.Those are impressive stats considering it’s a 4,940-pound car, but naturally, you’ll pay for the privilege. The CL63 starts at an already lofty $154,600, while the CL65 — remember, it’s just 0.2 seconds quicker — will run you an atmospheric $215,500.
9. Mercedes E63 AMG S
Say you’re looking for a large-ish saloon car that has over 500 horsepower, but you aren’t looking to spend over $100,000. There aren’t too many options out there, but the E63 is definitely one, and should be placed at the top of that short list. It starts at $99,770, uses the same bi-turbo 5.5 liter V8 as the CL63, and in this application lays down 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.This allows it to jaunt to 60 in just 3.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 186 miles per hour (155 for the non-S-model). If you need a family sedan that will leave skid marks all over town, the E63 is a safe bet — the wagon, which shares similar stats, is also worthy of a look as well.
8. Mercedes CLK GTR
The Mercedes CLR GTR joins the likes of the Porsche GT1, as a car that was made specifically for homologation purposes so that the racing version could legally be entered in the GT1 class, which requires that at least 25 street-legal models must exist. An AMG-sourced (naturally) 6.9-liter V12 engine was implemented, producing a total of 604 horsepower and 572 pound-feet of torque. This allowed the car — one of which recently sold at auction for a tidy $1.3 million — to nail 60 in just 3.8 seconds, before reaching a terminal speed of 199 miles per hour — not bad, for a 12-year-old car.In all, 26 CLK GTRs were made, six of which were the roadster model that’s pictured. Therefore, it’s exceedingly rare, and will likely appreciate handsomely as time goes on. Who knows — in ten years, $1.3 million might seem like a bargain!
7. Mercedes S63 AMG 4MATIC
If there’s one car more opulent than the CL65 in Mercedes’s lineup, it would be the S63 AMG with Daimler’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. Not only will the insides and technology make a royal sultan and NASA blush respectively, but that 577 horsepower, AMG-derived V8 that’s found in the E63 can launch the S63 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds.This is 0.3 seconds faster than the S65, which packs AMG’s 6.0 liter V12, but doesn’t have the 4MATIC system in place, despite being down by about 45 horsepower. Essentially, if you’re looking for the creamy, smooth and physics-defying acceleration, go with the $222,000 V12 S65; if you’re looking for a luxury yacht that you can bring on the track and give a good thrashing, the 5.5 liter, $141,000 V8 is your best bet.
6. Mercedes SL65 AMG
Though it doesn’t look as extreme as some of Mercedes’s other coupes or roadsters, the SL65 is all business. It utilizes the same 6.0 liter biturbo V12 found in the S63, producing an identical 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, helping the convertible move to 60 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds, and on to a likely limited top speed of 186 miles per hour — though we feel it’s capable of far more.That being said, it’s probably wise not to go much faster than that in a car that doesn’t have a rigid roofing structure. It’s a steep proposition at $214,500, but it’s also among the most powerful in its class. Our advice? Wait a couple of years, and get one on the used market for far less.
5. CLS63 AMG 4MATIC
The CLS63 AMG is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Yes, it has four doors, costs just over $106,000 (downright cheap by Mercedes standards), and has 550 horsepower. It’s also blisteringly quick. Despite being down by some 70 horses next to the SL65 or the S63, the CLS63 4MATIC can nail 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, and on its way to a limited top speed of 186. For that reason alone, we’re ranking it at number five on our ranking.At 4,355 pounds, it’s a good 600 pounds less than the CL, despite the extra length (it’s actually about 6 inches shorter than the CL, too). That helps out with its agility, while the all-wheel drive system ensures than not one of those 550 horses are led astray.
4. Mercedes SLR McLaren
The Mercedes SLR McLaren was essentially a street-legal showcase for Mercedes’s Formula 1 technology, and as such, packed a 617 horsepower, 575 pound-foot, supercharged V8. It was developed in conjunction with McLaren, who was Mercedes’s race partner at the time. Top speed was 206 miles per hour, and 62 came up in a short 3.8 seconds — a tenth faster than the new S Class AMG.The SLR also featured a body shell and chassis made entirely from high-strength carbon fiber composites, Swing-wing doors that swing both forwards and upwards, carbon fiber reinforced lightweight ceramic brakes, and many other F1-inspired accoutrements. It has now become one of the more sought after super cars, and it commanded a price of about $500,000 when new.
3. Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series
They’re all gone now (as in sold, not destroyed), but the SLS AMG Black Series is one of the fastest Mercedes-Benz cars on roads today. It ran for about $250,000, and fewer than 200 made their way to the United States. But what you get for that money — whoa, nelly.The Black Series brings 39 more horsepower to the table, over the “standard” SLS. This translates to 622 horsepower, which help the SLS AMG Black Series power off the line and hit 60 in just 3.2 seconds, and reach a terminal velocity of 196. A standing quarter-mile happens in 11.2 seconds, and the whole car has had a good going over to ensure peak performance — new aero, a higher pressure oil system, tuned suspension, new exhaust, and so on.
2. Mercedes SLR 722
The Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 lessened the already meager gap between the standard SLR and an F1 car. While the entry-level SLR had 617 horsepower, the 722 (named after Mercedes’s 300SLR start time of 7:22 a.m. at the Mille Miglia in 1955) has a “claimed” top speed of 209 miles per hour, and only 150 were made total — and just 20 to 30 of them available in the States.At release, they cost about $480,000 per unit. About 100 pounds were cut out from the standard SLR, and 60 can happen in bout 3.6 seconds — 0.2 seconds off the time of the regular model. The supercharged V8, however, remains constant, though it was tuned to dish out the extra horsepower.
1. Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss
Take the aforementioned SLR 722. Remove everything unnecessary — you know, the windshield, the passenger seat, those extra bits. Jack up the price by nearly a factor of two, and you have what is essentially the SLR Stirling Moss — named for the famed British racing driver who drove the 300SLR in the 1955 Mille Miglia.Without those intrusions, the top speed is now supposedly 217 miles per hour, while 0-60 is estimated to happen in less than 3.5 seconds. Only 75 units were made, and it’s also the swan song for the SLR line — and the partnership between Mercedes and McLaren.
