| Product placement | 2008 Formula One season | Mercedes-Benz AMG models |
Mercedes' tuning arm, AMG, has come up with two specially converted models to act as the safety and medical cars at every round of the Formula One season for 2008. The SL 63 AMG will be the official safety car, while a
C 63 AMG Estate will act as the medical car.
To cope with the extreme heat experienced at some F1 rounds, both cars have improved cooling systems. Additional engine oil, transmission oil and power steering coolers have been added to make sure both the SL 63 and C 63 are completely reliable when pounding around the 18 circuits of the F1 calendar. There are also larger brakes and lighter alloy wheels to deal with the demands of being driven hard on track in an emergency.
AMG has also stripped out 220kg of excess weight from these cars as they will mainly be driven on race tracks. Luxuries such as the leather seats are replaced by lightweight racing items with harness-style safety belts, while most of the sound-proofing found in road-going models has been removed to reduce weight.
Both cars have roof-mounted flashing lights and the C 63 AMG Estate carries a doctor and vital life-saving equipment should the worst happen.
Alisdair Suttie - 10 Mar 2008