This information was reported in the March 2002 issue of European Car:

"From September 2002, for the 2003 Model year, customers will be able to specify 4-Matic versions of the C-Class and S-Class as well. The C240 and C320 4-Matic and S430 and S500 4-Matic will be made in Graz, Austria, along side the E-Class 4-Matic and the ML270CDI.

For those who want a more stylish car, the 4-Matic system will also be available as an option in the V6-powered C240 and C320 Sport Coupe models, which join the range in the summer.

AMG is also working on a 217-bhp 3.0 liter five-cylinder turbo-diesel motor, based on next year's upgraded 270 CDI motor... But diesel engine development cost are substantially higher, and production costs of a diesel engine are nearly double that of a gas unit. The future of the first AMG oil-burner project depends on projectecd sales volume.

Meanwhile, the supercharged SL55 AMG scheduled for a spring 2002 launch has run into fuel-consumption problems and may be put back as far as the end of 2002. Cars have reportedly been using as much as 35 liters/100km in testing, effectively doubling the claimed fuel-consumption figures. Where the C32's V6 uses one crankshaft-driven belt to drive the blower and engine ancillaries, the bigger unit has so much more drag it needs a dedicated belt. The larger blower is said to take 80- to 90 bhp from the engine at peak revs.

Finally, our sources tell us that the Maybach limousine's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 engine has been offically rated at 476, with 544 bhp available on overboost. Torque is said to be as much as 664 lb-ft (900Nm). With a curb weight of 2,620kg (5776 lb) in basic form and massive 265/55R18 tires, it will need all of this to be swift."

OT: E430 for sale: www.E55AMG.com/e430.html

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SL55 on hold, that's a shame. I'm sure it will be an awesome vehicle when it does come out.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

There seems to be a lot of rumors surrounding the SL55's fuel consumption. Somebody on another forum posted pics of a SL55 that was at a local dealer in the UK and the customer was picking it up. If it's on hold then they wouldn't be delivering customer cars. So i'm not really sure what's going on.

The information about the SL55 being delayed is already a couple months old. It takes a monthly magazine like European Car about 2 months to publish. The same issue just reported coverage of the Las Vegas SEMA show held 30 Oct- 02 November 2001 in the February 2002 issue.

Holy crap! That's about 7 miles per US gallon.

With an 80L fuel tank, that thing could make about 220 km on a tank. That's not lots of range...

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John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

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Dang!!! I thought the fuel consumption of my 400SE is bad...

Andy Kuo

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1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
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2002 Acura TL Type S
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