The German tuner revealed photos and complete details with the 2010 Carlsson C25 just as the Geneva Motor Show is ready to open its doors to the media.
With only 25 units to be produced the 2010 Carlsson C25 is an exclusive car that features extensive technical improvements as well as well as exterior and interior modifications.
The 2010 Carlsson C25 is based on the Mercedes SL600 and power is extracted from a V12 Biturbo engine that produces a massive 753 horsepower (554 kW) and no less than 1320 Nm of torque which was limited to 1150 Nm. This engine us mated with a C-Tronic SUSPENSION that is continuously adjusting according to road conditions and driving behavior.
When accelerating from 0 to 100 Km/h the 2010 Carlsson C25 takes just 3.7 seconds and its maximum speed was clocked at 352 Km/h.
The 2010 Carlsson C25 price was not announced.
The design philosophy of the Carlsson C25
It is the dream of every designer to create a classic Gran
Turismo one time. As far as the C25 is concerned, the Carlsson head
designer Rolf Schepp has mastered an extreme challenge. The art was to
develop an independent design combining the emotional character with
safety-relevant aspects and high road capability.
Carlsson has
therefore implemented a self-confident, but function-oriented design
rendering high dynamics, timeless elegance, visible sportiness and road
capability due to subtle line management and well-balanced proportions.
At the same time, the Carlsson design team achieved to integrate the
significant Mercedes origin into the independent Gran Turismo design.
This way, the modern interpreted shapes can be traced back to the W 196
up to the “Autobahnkurier” (Autobahn cruiser). This essential basis of
the Carlsson design philosophy has been growing over the years and is
now also a cornerstone for the design of the C25. But with this
automobile, this cornerstone for the first time has been subjected to
the independent GT line management. The consequent redesign of the car
body led to a carriage which embodies functional purposes besides
elegance and sportiness. Therefore, the automobile does not need any
extendable attachments in order to render the necessary aerodynamics
for everyday use.
Overview
The front view
…is dominated by the dynamic and aggressive trapezoid shapes of
the giant air inlets which are typical for Carlsson and which perfectly
interact in a tension-filled contrast with the sovereign lights.
The powerfully vaulted wings which can be perceived as landmarks from
the driver´s seat flow into the bonnet with its strong contours at the
sides with integrated power domes. In connection with the vertically
adjusted daytime running lights, the headlights render a superb racing
character
The side view
…clearly confirms the classic GT-proportions with front central
engine under the elongated bonnet, the firm aero tail and the formally
reduced roof construction. Basically, it consists of three plane arches
which are dynamically connected by an elaborately offset line
management.
The brawny and muscular car body impresses with its
crouched appearance with powerfully modelled wings dominating the side
view.
A main arch spanning over the cockpit is supported by two arch-shaped
wings at the front and at the back which majestically rise over the
wheels.
The Carlsson designers created the wheel flange and wings, the negative
rear view and the lower front from vertical lines lunging forward and
rendering a fast forward-moving impression.
The elaborate graphical design of the motor engine ventilation, wheel
flanges, wing edges and door section corresponds with the strongly
vaulted sides and renders a rich contrast.
The rear view
…has a highly visible aerodynamic functionality. The entire rear
section has been basically designed like a generous cave in order to
integrate the upper rear edge generating downthrust in the best
possible formal and logical way. Deliberately, Rolf Schepp puts the
dynamic focus on the powerfully designed double diffuser with the
significantly integrated end pipe blends which make the rear look not
so high.
Rolf Schepp continues to apply the paramount trapezoid
shapes from the front which are so typical for Carlsson also to the
back by a perfect interaction of the boot lid and the double diffuser.
The GT-typical, flowing and filigree roof construction is supported by
the broad shoulders of the rear wings and flows into the gently curved
ascent of the back tear-off edge.
With the Carlsson C25, the automobile manufactory consequently lights
the way into future. The design of the Gran Turismo accomplished to
connect agility, elegance and functionality in a unique automobile.
The technical philosophy of the Carlsson C25
The Carlsson C25 has been born from a revolutionary idea. For
the first time, the automobile manufactory positions a Gran Turismo in
an entirely new way. The coupé is the first own developed car by
Carlsson and it combines two vehicle concepts which up to now have been
considered as incompatible. On the one hand, the Carlsson C25 renders
top performances with its 753 hp strong engine and an acceleration from
0 to 100 kph in 3.7 seconds. And on the other hand it breaks out from
the supercar category and offers comfortable travel performances and an
unsurpassable road capability. Therefore, the Carlsson C25 combines the
best from two worlds and with its limited edition of only 25 pieces it
offers an outstanding exclusiveness.
The V12-Biturbo owes its 753
hp (554 kW) to Carlsson’s experience and art of engineering. This
performance is guaranteed by the interaction between the stainless
steel exhaust system, the special sports air filters and the engine
electronics especially adjusted to the C25 with its special engine
characteristic maps for injection and ignition. Also the charge air
ventilation and the manifold are exactly adjusted to the car.
Therefore, the high-performance engine renders a maximum torque of 1320
Newton metres, electronically limited to 1150 Newton metres and
accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in only 3.7 seconds.
The comprehensive adjustment between car body, aerodynamics, engine
performance and undercarriage renders an unsurpassable driving
experience. The Carlsson C25 is no serial automobile with an oversized
implanted engine, but a special automobile with perfectly adjusted
components.
Intelligent undercarriage guarantees perfect road capability
But
this is not the only unique selling point of the Carlsson C25. No Gran
Turismo with comparable performance data has ever reached the maximum
road capability as incorporated by the Carlsson C25. This is among
others rendered by the suspension technology C-Tronic® SUSPENSION. The
intelligent system recognises the road condition as well as the driving
behaviour and continuously adjusts the remaining spring travel and the
damping settings to it. This guarantees driving pleasure in narrow
curves due to a perfectly limited vehicle roll as well as a comfortable
journey on long distances and bad road conditions.
For perfect travel comfort, the Carlsson C25 offers all safety- and
assistance systems which fulfil the high Mercedes-Benz standards: ABS,
ESP, Airbags, crash-behaviour and pedestrian protection.
Therefore, the Carlsson C25 has the advantage that the Gran Turismo can
still be serviced by any Mercedes-Benz garage. The customer is not
bound to one dealer specialised in the Carlsson C25, but can always
rely on the closest Mercedes-Benz garage.
Intuitive operation and high-quality haptics
In addition to its unsurpassable road capability, the Carlsson C25
offers an operating concept which seems surprisingly familiar to the
driver. The cockpit with the central instruments tilted towards the
driver, the sport steering wheel and the comfortable seats are made for
intuitive operation. The engineers and designers put special emphasis
on the arrangement and design of the instruments and that shows in the
high-quality haptics and the superb intuitive operation.
But the Carlsson C25 does not only convince with its positioning
combining the advantages of a high-performance automobile with perfect
road capability. Also when it comes to the price, the Gran Turismo from
Merzig/Germany is very attractive. For cars with a comparable
performance from Italy or Scandinavia, the customer has to invest at
least the double if not the triple price. But even then those car
manufacturers can’t guarantee their customers the exclusiveness of the
Carlsson C25 as there is only one automobile available per country.
No Carlsson C25 looks like the other
Moreover, the automobile manufactory Carlsson designs the C25 entirely
according to customer demands. This includes a varnish in two- or
three-colour concept which is also used for the interior. Also Carlsson
offers for example an audio system which has especially been produced
for the C25 by the French high-end manufacturer Focal.
When it comes to material selection, there are also no limits. Most of
all the interior decoration can be lined with all possible combinations
made of leather, ultra-suede or textile fabric.
Also, the forged light alloy wheels can be produced according to the
wishes of the customer. The customer can opt for the shape and varnish
of the rims in one-, two- or three-colour design and therefore the
customer can rest assured that his set of wheels is unique all over the
world. Moreover, Carlsson offers the ultra-light forged wheel 1/10 UL
which sets new standards in wheel design with its revolutionary
combination of single- and double spokes..
Carlsson therefore further increases the exclusiveness of the anyway
strictly limited series of only 25 pieces. And this ensures that only
unique automobiles are produced. No C25 looks like the other.
In the tradition of large coachbuilders
With its first own developed car, the automobile manufactory continues
the tradition of large coachbuilders. This already shows in the design
of the Carlsson C25 which bears the origins of the legendary Mercedes
models such as the W 196 or the “Autobahnkurier” (Autobahn cruiser).
Carlsson combined this tradition with the continuously developing
Carlsson design which is reflected in the typical trapezoid shapes. As
so often with traditional companies which originated from family
businesses, the automobile manufactory Carlsson developed a unique car
which only uses the platform of a large car company.
Already between both World Wars or from the 1950s onwards, smaller
companies have taken a significant influence on larger car companies.
This included Mulliner and Park Ward with their groundbreaking work for
Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Also Swiss Peter Monteverdi made history with
his new auto body for the Ferrari Monza or other cars which combined
US-American engines with Italian car bodies such as the Monteverdi Hai
450 with its hand-made carriage.
In exactly the same way as these specialists, Carlsson and the C25
today present which possibilities there are when combining experience,
passion and the art of engineering.
