Throwback Thursday: 2000 Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG F1 Limited Edition Gave Us Ceramic Brakes

20 years ago, Mercedes-Benz developed a road-going version of the Formula One Safety Car of the time, despite the fact that the latter was already based on a production model.

We’re talking about the Mercedes-Benz CL55 AMG F1 Limited Edition, the first street-legal car worldwide to feature ceramic brake discs. Launched at the end of May 2000 to coincide with the start of the Formula One season, this limited run CL55 AMG was closely based on the Safety Car that Bernd Mayländer drove back in the day.

It was very exclusive, as only 55 units were earmarked for production, each priced at a whopping 330,000 Deutsche Marks (the equivalent of $185,500 in today’s money). A collector’s item right from the start, the CL55 AMG F1 Limited Edition was only built from summer 2000 to 2001 as part of the C215-generation CL luxury coupe model series that ran from 1999 through to 2006.

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As with the “regular” CL55 AMG, the F1 Limited Edition packed a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 engine hand-built by AMG. The power plant featured no modifications, churning out 360 PS (355 HP) at 5,500 rpm and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque from 3,150 to 4,500 rpm. This enabled the CL55 AMG F1 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The car’s party piece was the ceramic brake system, a world first for a production vehicle in 2000. In the event of full braking from full speed, it provided a stopping power of up to 1,471 kW (2,000 PS / 1,973 HP). This was made possible by a combination of internally ventilated brake discs built from fiber-reinforced ceramic and eight-piston brake calipers supplied by Brembo.

Advantages also included an extremely high thermal resistance and reduced weight of the brake discs, which were 60 percent lighter than conventional steel discs. The reduction in unsprung weight also contributed to improved vehicle dynamics and more driving fun.

In the unlikely case you cross paths with a CL55 AMG F1 today, you can recognize it thanks to the Brilliant Silver Metallic paint, 19-inch AMG light-alloy rims in a five-spoke design, as well as ‘F1 Limited Edition’ lettering on the front fenders, illuminated door sills and the center console (next to a numbered plaque).

Inside, the CL55 AMG F1 featured front sports seats in a black-and-silver leather upholstery with embroidered AMG logos, AMG sports steering wheel with perforated leather cover at the top, carbon fiber trim elements on the center console, automatic selector lever and doors, as well as AMG-branded floor mats.