The 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Prior Design Widebody owned by forum member slowdiver is a rolling work of art.
Earlier this year, MBWorld member slowdiver shared images of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Prior Design Widebody that he had recently purchased from his local exotic car dealership. In its factory form, the 2008 CL65 AMG was a remarkable sports car, but the Prior Design widebody kit and the Forgiato wheels make this one stunning Benz.
When slowdiver bought his gorgeous 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Prior Design Widebody back in July, it stood out from other 2008 CL65s thanks to the prominent widebody package and the massive 13”-wide Forgiato wheels wrapped in 355mm-wide Pirelli tires. Those wider wheels work with the wider body to give this AMG a wicked stance, but more importantly, those 355mm-wide rear tires help the CL65 make full use of the available 604 horsepower and 738lb-ft of torque.
This 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Prior Design Widebody was a beautiful machine with gobs of power when he bought it, but slowdiver has further upgraded this V12-powered beast over the past few months.
Modding the Prior Design CL65
The first modification for slowdiver’s 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Prior Design Widebody car was the R2 Performance Package from Renntech. This adds an upgraded engine computer, an upgraded transmission computer, a high efficiency intercooler pump, new mufflers and a carbon fiber air box. The result of this package is a jump from 604hp and 738lb-ft of torque to 700hp and 900lb-ft of torque, but to further sharpen the throttle response, slowdiver added a PedalBox 3S electronic throttle controller.
Finally, the most recent changes made include a set of exhaust cutouts and a new torque convertor. The cutouts allow the exhaust flow to bypaas the mufflers, allowing the twin-turbocharged V12 to roar and the torque convertor increases torque output to a whopping 1,050lb-ft.
Hopefully slowdiver will continue to update the community as he adds more modifications and more power to this wicked CL65 from Prior Design.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
