Kleemann GTK

[LeMans GTR]

Danish design, world performance

The GTK project has been in the works for 3 years now and Kleemann has finally announced the official specs and background story to this brand new supercar. The Kleemann GTK is structurally based on the Mercedes SLK and is powered by the naturally aspirated SLK 55 AMG but with a complete Kleemann Kompressor system resulting in 540 HP and 700 Nm of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission delivers the power to the road, top speed is limited to 300 km/h and the GTK speeds from 0 to 100km/h in roughly 3,7 seconds. GTK stands for a front-engined, rear-wheel driven, coupe shaped style of car, historicaly known as the Grand Turismo while the K stands for Kleemann.

Christian Brandt has designed the GTK Concept from scratch but with future Mercedes products in mind, some current Kleemann products are already based on the GTK concept like the TS-7 wheel and some styling cues can be traced to the new C-class and CLS-class kits. “The positive feedback from the market over the past couple of years confirms us in the belief that the KLEEMANN design direction we set in 2004 is right and appealing to the international market,” says Christian Brandt.

The Kleemann GTK is made out of carbon fibre panels and finished with existing Kleemann parts, testing has been taking place since 2005 with great success. Of course, with designing a car from the ground up you always run into a fair share of challenges but Christian Brandt says he has gained much experience from the process and foresees even more sophisticated and reliable Kleemann performance solutions thanks to that experience.

Press Release

In 2004, KLEEMANN made ambitious plans for creating unique and exclusive KLEEMANN sportscars. Now, after 3 years of design and development, KLEEMANN bring their vast technology know-how and experience to the next level by introducing the GTK concept car.
The design project

KLEEMANN, best known for their long experience in Kompressor technology and exclusive styling products for Mercedes-Benz cars, now enters the battlefield of the exclusive sportscar manufacturers. This was made possible when KLEEMANN employed the internationally experienced car designer Christian Brandt. Christian has headed the top secret GTK design project, which was not only a sportscar project, but also a design and technology development platform for future KLEEMANN performance and styling solutions for Mercedes-Benz cars.
The KLEEMANN styling solutions have always been designed with the deepest of respect for the elegant, powerful and exclusive design of the Mercedes-Benz cars. In order to go to the next level of KLEEMANN design, we felt that we needed to create a complete car. Designing a complete car enables us to create styling solutions for the Mercedes-Benz cars from a much bigger perspective than we have done previously by creating enhancements for production cars, says Christian Brandt.

The GTK design project has been a big inspiration for both current and future KLEEMANN products. The wheel of the GTK has inspired the new TS-7 wheel with its unique directional one-piece design, and elements from the GTK design are similar to some parts of the current styling solutions for the KLEEMANN S-class and CLS-class. Current design projects planned for launch in the next 6-12 months for new Mercedes-Benz models will feature significant shapes and details from the GTK design. As all other KLEEMANN styling solutions, the design of the GTK is based on the unique KLEEMANN design code of elegance and simplicity acknowledging the Nordic design traditions of simple and organic shapes. The positive feedback from the market over the past couple of years confirms us in the belief that the KLEEMANN design direction we set in 2004 is right and appealing to the international market, Christian Brandt concludes.
Sohisticated and reliable tecnology

The KLEEMANN GTK features carbon fibre body panels as well as many existing high performance KLEEMANN products, such as Kompressor system, alloy wheels, brakes etc. These new products have been developed and tested since 2005 in a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG and the GTK is structurally based on the SLK.

When we chose to base the GTK on the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG, we wanted to offer exclusive sportscar design with the built-in everyday reliability, safety and comfort of the Mercedes-Benz cars. That way we could focus on developing specific elements making the car's design and performance unique for KLEEMANN, says technical director Claus Ankjaer.

In the creation of the GTK we faced several new challenges, and the experience we gained from solving these challenges, enable us to develop and manufacture even more sophisticated and reliable performance solutions for existing and future Mercedes-Benz car models, Claus concludes.
Unique performance

Featuring the normally aspirated SLK 55 AMG engine fitted with a complete KLEEMANN Kompressor system, the GTK boasts 540 HP of power and 700 Nm of torque. This power is transferred to the road through a 7-speed automatic gearbox, a KLEEMANN limited slip differential and ultra low profile Toyo T1-R tires on 20" KLEEMANN alloy rims designed specifically for the GTK, giving the driver maximum performance and control on the road.

Being a safe, reliable and everyday usable sportscar reflects the Comfort Power slogan of KLEEMANN, and set it apart from many other race bred sportscars.

The raw performance data for the GTK places it at the very front of the competition: The 0-100 km/h acceleration is done in only 3,7 seconds and the GTK continues the brutal acceleration right up to the electronically limited top speed of 300 km/h. The high performance KLEEMANN brake system featuring 380 mm. vented discs with 8 piston fixed aluminium callipers front and 345 mm. vented discs with 4 piston fixed aluminium callipers rear ensure fast and secure stopping power from any speed.

KLEEMANN is currently not planning mass production of the GTK.

[JipJopJones]

Looks cool, also looks like a Mercedes Rx-8

[Lilleput]

Originally Posted by JipJopJones

Looks cool, also looks like a Mercedes Rx-8

Thought exactly the same when i saw the pictures.. Merc RX-8 with 7xx of torque.. Even if it was ugly i'd still want one but it isn't..

[poptya]

so wheres the car? All I see is an RX-8

[Elmo187]

Originally Posted by poptya

so wheres the car? All I see is an RX-8

is there an echo in this thread?

[Dsemaj]

I like it! Miles better than the SLK.

[M3lover]

Originally Posted by Dsemaj

I like it! Miles better than the SLK.

I can asure you it will be miles faster too.

Edit: I've just noticed they have used the CLS front lights. Rear lights too maybe

[Polly]

Awesome. WANT!

[American TG Man]

Want.

Off Topic: Why was the first image to pop into my wind on reading "Kleemann" was "Kleenex?"

[zenkidori]

that shit is nasty. looks terrible.

[chaosmasouki]

OO

hmmm RX-8~ wait it's a merc!!

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

that shit is nasty. looks terrible.

I agree, though I will say that those CLS taillights look better on this kind of car than a large sedan.

[epp_b]

The first thing I thought was Mercedes plus Maserati Gran Turismo. But, I can certainly see RX8 in the mix, too.

[No Boss]

Did anyone mention the fact that this looks a lot like an RX-8 and Merc mushed together?

.....what?....

[Aiolos]

That looks sweeeeeeeet. I want one. 8)

[The_Finn]

i kinda like it. i have sent the picture to a number of friends without telling them it is a merc (front shot only) and 4 out of 5 have called it a riced out RX-8

[MadCow809]

WTF, uglee as fuck, looks like a riced up Merc. And that triangular exhaust is just so pathetic.

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by The_Finn

i kinda like it. i have sent the picture to a number of friends without telling them it is a merc (front shot only) and 4 out of 5 have called it a riced out RX-8

Originally Posted by No Boss

Did anyone mention the fact that this looks a lot like an RX-8 and Merc mushed together?

.....what?....

Originally Posted by chaosmasouki

OO

hmmm RX-8~ wait it's a merc!!

Originally Posted by poptya

so wheres the car? All I see is an RX-8

Originally Posted by Lilleput

Thought exactly the same when i saw the pictures.. Merc RX-8 with 7xx of torque.. Even if it was ugly i'd still want one but it isn't..

Originally Posted by JipJopJones

Looks cool, also looks like a Mercedes Rx-8

You're all wrong, it actually looks EXACTLY like a 1965 Chevy Corvair Greenbrier van.




(At least No Boss is being sarcastic.)

[Donington]

NICE rims! (on the van)

[A.Fonz]

It doesn't look anything like a RX-8.*
I think it looks awesome.





* And I'm not being sarcastic.