Carlsson (car company)

[Image:Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont front view.jpg|thumb|240px|Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS Blanchimont]
[Image:Carlsson CK63 RSR front view.jpg|thumb|240px|Carlsson CK63 RSR]
Carlsson was a German car tuning manufacturer specialising in Mercedes-Benz cars. The Carlsson tuning house was founded by brothers Rolf and Andreas Hartge in 1989. Carlsson's products were available for the entire current range of Mercedes-Benz models including the R-Class, SL-Class, C-Class and the GL-Class along with many others. The company is most popular for its range of alloy wheels.
Through a new importer Carlsson began a more aggressive push into the US market in 2006 after debuting their newly modified CL500 vehicle at the 2006 SEMA Show. In their review, Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine said, "... the CL is starting to resemble something more in line with a Bentley Continental - even if it is a little shy when it comes to horsepower."

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History

The brothers, Rolf and Andreas Hartge, started a company in 1989 named Carlsson in honor of the Swedish rally driver, Ingvar Carlsson, who raced for the Mercedes Rally Team during the 1980s.
Carlsson also made cars based on Citroën, SAAB, Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and Genesis models.
In 2012, Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited acquired 70% of the company's stake.
In 2015, Sambo Motors Co. Ltd., a Korean company, took over with effect from December 4.

Cars

Carlsson CK35 RS Race Car

Based on a Mercedes SLK350 the CK35 RS race car debuted at the Nürburgring 24 hour race in 2005. The Carlsson Racer produces at 6500 rpm and of torque at 3500 rpm. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 265 km/h.

Carlsson C25

The C25, based on the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG, made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. It's powered by a twin-turbocharged V12 engine that generates and of torque, electronically limited from because of the transmission. It also features carbon fiber bodywork with a fixed roof, ditching the power folding hardtop from the SL, which Carlsson claims reduces the total weight by, for a curb weight of around. Estimated acceleration from 0–100 km/h is 3.7 seconds and the top speed is 219 mph. Carlsson said they planned to produce a limited run of 25 units, each of which would go to a different country.

Carlsson Coachbuilding

In 2007, Carlsson began a coachbuilding program with fashion house Etienne Aigner. The first example of their work together was a coachbuilt Mercedes CL65, titled the Carlsson Aigner CK65 RS "Eau Rouge." The "Eau Rouge" refers to the famous turn at the Belgian race track Spa Francorchamps. Producing from Carlsson's engineers the car has a two-tone paint scheme and features a hand crafted wine-colored interior from Etienne Aigner.