Carlsson (car company)

Markus Schuster
Mathias R. Albert

The Carlsson GmbH is a specialized on automobiles of the Mercedes- Benz German car tuning company. Due to its partly comprehensive modifications Carlsson is also officially recognized by the Federal Motor Vehicle Office as an independent car manufacturer.

History

The Carlsson automotive GmbH was founded in 1989 by brothers Rolf and Andreas Hartge. The namesake, technology partners and former works driver for Mercedes- Benz, who died in 2009, Swede Ingvar Carlsson, the company stood for a long time with help and advice. His experience flowed from Carlsson in technical advancements and innovations.

The company remained until 2007 owned by the brothers Hartge, when they sold the company to a family from the Lake Constance region.

Headquarters

Seat of the vehicle tuner since 1995, a former, 25,000 -square-foot manor ( Gut Wiesenhof ) from the 19th century in Merzig, which was awarded after its renovation by the brothers Hartge in 1996 with an award for conservation. Built by the Governor, Baron Constantin von Briesen and originally intended for the cultivation of noble race horses, one finds today engine test benches and an electronics laboratory in the over 170 year-old walls.

Racing

Since 1999, Carlsson involved with your own racing team Carlsson Racing at various races and race series, including the 24-hour Nürburgring race, the Dakar Rally and the VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring. Current vehicle is the CK35 RS ( based on the Mercedes -Benz SLK 350), with the race team reached the second place in the VLN Endurance Championship 2006.

Products

The breakthrough in the tuning market Carlsson succeeded in 1994 with the development of a spoked wheel for Mercedes- Benz automobiles. Even today, form self-developed light-alloy wheels, a core business of customizing company.

More gained fame vehicle tuner in early 2000 thanks to its supercharged high-tech engines. With the Carlsson C -Tronic has developed shortly after the turn of the millennium a tuning program for diesel vehicles. Through this additional control unit, Carlsson succeeds by its own account, to enhance the performance of engines and reduce fuel consumption. Since 2004, the manufacturer uses the C-Tronic SUSPENSION, to improve the suspension properties of its vehicles. Through its modifications, the tuner changed the series models from Mercedes -Benz so decisive that this partly marked with the Carlsson logo to leave the factory. In addition, the program includes accessories products for smart vehicles.

Outstanding project is currently being designed by the Carlsson head designer Rolf Schepp and built in a small series of 25 copies of Gran Turismo Carlsson C25. With this first self-developed Complete vehicle Carlsson wants to make claims to its competences visible and combine extreme performance with full everyday practicality. The unit price for the hand-crafted C25 is 510 510 Euro including German VAT. Per country Carlsson will only deliver one C25 to ensure maximum exclusivity.

Latest addition is the racing driver Ellen Lohr as the company's brand ambassador to the side.

Cooperations

In the past, Carlsson has worked with the renowned leather goods manufacturers Etienne Aigner. From this cooperation, three each strictly limited vehicles developed: the Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Eau Rouge based on Mercedes -Benz CL-Class (CL 65 AMG, C216 ), the Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS BLANCHIMONT based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class ( S 65 AMG, 221 V ) and the Carlsson Aigner CK55 RS Rascasse based on the Mercedes -Benz GL-Class (GL 500 X 164).

Under the label by Carlsson, the company is also developing programs accessories for cars from the French manufacturer Citroën.