Daimler Workers Protest End of CLK63 AMG Production

Just kidding. I mean, both parts of the story are true: Daimler workers are protesting and Mercedes is NSFW-canning the 6.2something liter version of the M3-chasing CLK. In the case of the Daimler workers, they’re doing what German workers do: take to the streets to protest the slightest roll-back in pay or bennies. Oh, did you think this was a union protest? Nein. “Workers wearing cardboard masks of chief executive Dieter Zetsche’s face carried collection boxes as they protested against pay cuts of up to 14 per cent for the company’s 73,000 white-collar staff. They are also being asked to reduce their working week by up to five hours.” As for Daimler’s assembly workers, they’re being gummed to death. “The car maker has also put 50,000 factory workers in automotive production on shorter working hours, and plans the same for another 18,000 commercial vehicle workers after Easter.” Same money, less hours? Yeah, that’ll work. Meanwhile, back to the Galactica! It looks like AMG’s maximum thrust models (apologies to Peter North) are due for a major cutback.

According to Autocar, not only will AMG not bother making the CLK63 AMG, the doubly negative in-house tuner will go for the triple: they won’t be making the CLK63 AMG Black Series, either. If I’m reading this right, that’s because there won’t be a C-Class coupe. Merc will stick with the E. Which also won’t get the AMG treatment because . . . hardly anyone buys them? No se.

In any case, depending on whether they enjoy gangsta chic, depreciation dismissing AMG devotees may be pleased to learn that Mercedes will refresh the CLS63 AMG. In fact, “it could be the first car to benefit from AMG’s new twin-turbocharged direct direct injection V8 engine planned to be unveiled next year.”

Rumor also has it Daimler Defense Industries’ Viper Mk VIII hit the chopping block. As the Beach Boys might say, sail on, sail on, Cylon.