Carlsson showed up at the Geneva Salon with a new version of its C25 supercar dubbed Royale. Based on the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG, the heavily customized coupe with the fixed rooftop will be built in a limited run of 25 units. Company officials said six vehicles have already been sold and will be delivered to the customers in 2011. According to Carlsson, each C25 Royale takes six months from order to delivery.
Compared to the Mercedes SL65 AMG coupe-cabriolet, the C25 Royale is 180 kilograms lighter, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, which is found on the hood and the fixed roof. This contributes to a lower center of gravity, in addition to the revision of the weight distribution, both aimed at offering improved handling.
Other weight-saving measures include the fitting of a full ceramic brake system, which is 50 percent lighter than on the SL 65 AMG. The German sports car also features a C-Tronic Suspension system developed by Carlsson, which detects road conditions and driving style and acts accordingly. For instance, on bad roads, the car is raised to offer better ride comfort.
At the heart of the C25 Royale is the biturbo V12-engine, tuned to deliver753 horsepower and 1,320 Nm of torque (973 lb-ft), which is electronically limited to 1,150 Nm (848 lb-ft). These impressive figures allow the C25 Royale to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,7 seconds and reach a top speed of 352 km/h (219 mph).
The custom exterior styling is matched to a bespoke interior with Carlsson offering buyers a variety of choices in features and materials.
By Dan Mihalascu
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