C30T CDI AMG: Mercedes Turbo-Diesel AMG Wagon?!
For sport wagon enthusiasts the world over, the idea of a highly tuned diesel-powered wagon is incredibly enticing. What’s not to like about high performance, diesel efficiency (and torque), and the practicality of a wagon? Add the sophistication of Mercedes-Benz and the heritage of their in-house tuner AMG Gmbh, and you’ve got the rare (and seldom journalized) C30 CDI AMG Wagon.
Mercedes claims the C30 AMG is their first diesel sports car, and to this day it remains AMG’s only diesel offering. Beginning with the W203 C-Class Wagon, Mercedes implanted a heart befitting an AMG. The 3.0 liter turbo-diesel five cylinder is an impressive evolution of the C270’s CDI mill, but benefits from a longer stroke, extra fueling, new iron block, and lower compression to handle higher boost. With a water-cooled intercooler, the C30 AMG produces 231 horsepower and a C55 AMG-beating (and more important) 398 lb-ft of toque! Power is transferred to 245/40 ZR 17 rear rubber through a 5-speed automatic transmission, and AMG claims sixty mph comes in under 7 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 150. Best of all is the C30’s ability to sip fuel: combined city and highway on the U.S. cycle is an impressive 36 miles-per-gallon.
For tuners, the C30 CDI’s five-banger offers an incredible starting point. With just an ECU tune, company’s like Mosselman Turbo Systems boost the C30’s output to 270 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Top speed increases to a more AMG-like 165 mph.
Like all of AMG’s offerings, the C30 AMG CDI estate benefits suspension and drivetrain improvements. The C30 gets stiffer springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars, a stronger differential, more refined steering and a tougher drive shaft to handle the increased torque. Several different AMG alloys are offered with the wagon. Along with the C30 AMG coupe and sedan, the wagon was only sold in Europe and a limited number of worldwide markets. Its exceptional performance and efficiency, not to mention exclusivity and relative obscurity, make the C30T AMG a rare no-compromise uber-wagon.
July 12th, 2011
Specifications
| Engine | 3.0L Inline-5 Diesel |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged and Intercooled |
| Horsepower | 231 @ 3800 |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft @ 2000-2500 |
| Transmission | 5-speed Automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-Engined Rear-Wheel Drive |
| 0-60 | 6.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 150 MPH |
Photos
Press Release
DaimlerChrysler Press Text, September 26th 2002
C 30 CDI AMG: The first diesel sports car
As the first diesel-engined sports car the C 30 CDI AMG establishes new standards. Mercedes-AMG has extended its expertise with the C 30 CDI AMG: the completely newly developed direct-injection turbodiesel with common-rail technology develops an output of 170 kW/231 hp at 3800 rpm, while the maximum torque of 540 Newton metres is available between 2000 and 2500 rpm.
The sporty performance figures are by no means typical of a diesel: the C 30 CDI AMG in saloon and sports coupé format accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds – 7.0 seconds for the Estate model – and has a maximum speed of 250 km/h (Estate: 245 km/h). In terms of fuel economy the AMG model is a real diesel, however: the NEDC combined fuel consumption is 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres (Saloon and Sports Coupé) and 7.9 litres (Estate), which makes an operating range of more than 800 kilometres possible.
The C 30 CDI AMG will appear in the showrooms of the company-owned sales outlets and Mercedes-Benz dealerships from February 2003.
In-line five-cylinder CDI engine as a technological masterpiece made by AMG
The bonnet of this trendsetting diesel car conceals an AMG-modified inline five-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2950 cubic centimetres, newly designed component, common-rail direct injection, turbocharging, intercooling and exhaust gas recirculation. This powerful AMG CDI engine is charged by a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry. The engine electronics ensure almost instantaneous adjustment of the turbocharger vanes while controlling the charge pressure and the water pump. The high level of output and torque under all operating conditions is ensured by a sophisticated intercooler with an air-water heat exchanger and a separate low-temperature circuit.
With a view to the long operating life typical of a Mercedes the engineers at Mercedes-AMG GmbH designed the mechanical engine components from scratch, with a new crank assembly, reinforced pistons with oil-spray cooling of the piston crowns, optimised cylinder head bolt connections and a high-performance oil pump.
This considerable design effort is also the basis for the exemplary smoothness of this high-performance AMG engine. A high level of vibration comfort, quiet running and a large operating radius make the C 30 CDI AMG a car ideally suited to long-distance journeys.
In addition to the electronically controlled exhaust gas recirculation system, the entire AMG exhaust system has been newly designed with a generous pipe diameter of 76 millimetres and a catalytic converter close to the engine with thin-wall technology. A discreet indication of the effortless power developed by the new CDI models by AMG is provided by the downturned, chromed twin exhaust tail-pipe.
Direct driving experience by virtue of AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission
Power transfer in the C 30 CDI AMG is via the AMG SPEEDSHIFT five-speed automatic transmission, which combines the dynamism of a manual transmission with the comfort of automatic gearshifting. Electronic torque converter lockup from first gear provides an extremely direct driving experience previously unknown in diesel cars. Other features of AMG SPEEDSHIFT include the optimum-gear function and active downshifting when approaching bends. More spontaneous and rapid gearshifts make for a high level of agility in all speed ranges and accentuate the sporty character of these fast AMG
diesel cars.
AMG sports suspension and braking system adopted from the C 32 AMG
The braking system and suspension have also been systematically adapted to the dynamic performance. The AMG sports suspension with newly configured spring-damper elements and reinforced stabilisers has been adopted from the C 32 AMG with its 260 kW/354 hp supercharged V6 engine, as has the AMG high-performance braking system with internally ventilated brake discs all-round and perforated discs at the front. Wide-base tyres in size 225/45 ZR 17 at the front and 245/40 ZR 17 at the rear mounted on silver-painted AMG light-alloy wheels in a twin-spoke design not only ensure tenacious roadholding, but also a decidedly sporty impression.
The standard AMG bodystyling with athletically contoured front and rear aprons emphasises the muscular character of the C 30 CDI AMG. The Saloon and Estate model are also fitted with AMG side skirts. In the interior the fast CDI models show their dynamism with the new AMG instrument cluster graduated up to 300 km/h, the AMG shift lever with its C 30 emblem and the AMG sports steering wheel (Saloon and Estate only).
End of DaimlerChrysler Press Text