Kleemann
TypePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1985 by Claus Ankjær and Flemming Kleemann
HeadquartersFarum, Denmark
ProductsAutomobiles
WebsiteKleemann

Kleemann A/S is an after-market tuning company for Mercedes-Benz sports cars, sedans, and SUVs headquartered in Farum, Denmark. Recently, they have begun producing performance supercharging systems for Audi, BMW, and Porsche.

Kleemann's slogan is "Comfort Power," referring to its low-boost, high-output engines that create substantially more power than standard Mercedes models. Kleemann vehicles also include structural and mechanical integrity improvements often lacking in tuned sports cars. Its corporate logo is an abstract arrow which some corporate representatives refer to as the Kleemann carrot.

Any vehicle on the Mercedes lineup can be tuned in a number of ways from SLK roadsters to G-Class Wagons. Customers can specify custom seats, floormats, and interior fabrics as well as carbon fiber body kits, carbon front and rear splitters, and carbon interior panelling. Customers can order simple ECU upgrades that change transmission shift times and valve timing, or they can more aggressively have the engine bored and supercharged, install camshafts and high-flow headers. Kleemann also manufactures its own racing wheels, racing LSDs, racing suspension components, and multi-piston brakes. Kleemann can even install Lamborghini-style vertical doors on their modified vehicles.

History

Kleemann was founded in 1985 near Copenhagen. Initially it was a two-man operation, but took on a third partner in 1994. Kleemann began marketing its supercharger performance systems in 1988.

Records

In 2002 Danish race driver Jason Watt drove 338 km/h (210 mph) in a 607 hp (446 kW) Kleemann E 55K (W210 model) making it the world's fastest four-door car.[1] Less than a year later a Kleemann tuned ML 55K clocked a remarkable 282 km/h (175 mph) on the Nardò Ring in southern Italy making it the world's fastest SUV. However, both records have since been broken by Brabus in Bottrop, Germany.

Innovations

Kleemann is credited with being the first company to combine a supercharger, intake manifold, and an intercooler into one single unit atop the engine block known as the Kleemann Kompressor.[2] This is markedly different from the "Kompressors" or superchargers found on Mercedes-AMG vehicles, although AMG has since begun manufacturing only twin-turbo engines. Kleemann also utilizes twin-screw superchargers instead of roots type superchargers of conventionally belt-driven boost systems.

Vehicles

  • Kleemann E 55K[3]
  • Kleemann ML 55K[4]
  • Kleemann CL 60[5]
  • Kleemann E5KCC[6]
  • Kleemann SLK 55k S8[7]

References

  1. ↑ Kleemann - World Records Archived May 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Kleemann - Main Site Archived January 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Kleemann - World Records Archived May 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Road Test: Kleemann ML55K The Fastest Street-Legal SUV on the Planet
  5. ↑ Top Speed -2004 Kleemann Cl 60
  6. ↑ Top Speed - Kleemann cars
  7. ↑ "2005 Kleemann SLK 55k S8 @ Top Speed". 29 November 2005.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.