From the archive: on this day in 1998

The original Mercedes-Benz CLK was in essence a Mercedes C-Class coupé. The CLK GTR, though? Far, far from it.

About all they shared were some styling cues, the CLK GTR being a £1.1 million supercar that could go faster than any other, at 200mph, a limited-production special created to homologate the racer that had wiped the floor with its rivals in the 1997 FIA GT Championship. 

We reported: “The sheer range of torque from the 6.9-litre V12 is astonishing. There’s so much urge, so much of the time, that the gearbox is almost superfluous. 

“The suspension is firm, yet it feels civilised. It’s the steering that’s the revelation, fabulously direct, lighter than you’d ever expect, totally consistent in its weighting and always alive. 

“It turns instinctively. It’s too big and heavy to throw about, yet it behaves like a much smaller, more naturally agile sports car. 

“The GTR is not a toy. It’s too well built to deserve such a putdown. Yet it’s hard to see any relevance for it, apart from a career as a part-time plaything for the mega-rich. This is not real.” 

Be that as it may, you will need about £7m for one of the 20 today.

We drive the top-secret BMW Z3M Coupé

Of considerably more interest to the average performance car enthusist than the mega Mercedes CLK GTR, albeit still not the easiest to actually get hold of, was BMW’s new Z3-based M Coupé, built in secrecy after hours by M engineers. 

To make production cost-effective, most parts had to be shared, resulting in an odd-looking thing with an elongated deck – or a clown shoe, as many put it. 

Behind that aggressive face was the 3.2-litre 24-valve straight six from the BMW M3. Although downtuned slightly to 321bhp, it still gave 0-62mph in just 4.9sec. 

“Press the accelerator hard and the subdued burble gives way to a meaty growl which grows in intensity but never harshens until the limiter cuts in at a blood-curdling 7650rpm. Make no mistake: this is still one of the great engines.” 

That muscle, plus strong grip and smallness meant you could “muscle it along back roads at great speed with security and confidence”. 

However, the brakes could have been better, the steering feel was “strangely muted” and the understeer-tuned handling lacked “the fluency, precision and delicacy of a great sports car”.