RSS
Compelling, overpowering, insane. Like the mysterious foreigner who came to Russia and turned the world upside down, this modern day Voland is both enigmatic and omnipotent among the vast array of supercars that dominate Moscow’s dusty streets and highways.
Bristling with unfathomable horsepower and torque, Mercedes supercar workshop AMG developed the Black Series SL65 on a dare that left its engineers giggly as other flash car manufacturers scrambled to try and catch up. It will take awhile. The mad scientists at AMG are busy with new generations of rocket ships on wheels in the Black series that are gradually creating a counter-culture of the world’s fastest (and coolest) buggies in the field of supercar development. The program has been described as what the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird represents to the helicopter. Hold your breath, you may lose it.
Originally designed as a technology showcase, the beast in the photos is the production model Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series with a price tag designed for shock value…a cool $320,000 before tax. This carnivore makes other muscle cars look like sheep and hits 0-60mph in a lightening 3.9 seconds with a limited top speed of 199 mph. Plenty of unearthly speed and deific presence to make the skirts fly and scare the hell out of every stray dog in your district. Have a geek friend tweak the limiter chip with his laptop, we’re told, and open the flood gates to the Nirvanic 220mph top speed the car was designed for.
Nuts and Bolts
Carbon fiber is used for the hood, fenders, roof and trunk producing a curb weight that is 550 pounds lighter than the production non-Black AMG SL65 at 4122 and equates into greatly enhanced performance and handling.
No ordinary AMG model, the Black’s exterior has been reworked into a more aggressive style and to more effectively allow outside air to cool the awesome power plant with seven fully-functional forward facing air ducts integrated into the bumper, hood and fenders. The folding hardtop of production AMG SL65’s is replaced by a fixed roof that blends with the body and incorporates an integral roll cage.
Under the sculpted, aspirated hood resides the fire breathing volcanic power plant…a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 complemented by enlarged turbochargers, a more efficient intercooler and reworked exhaust for less back pressure. Three valves per cylinder contribute to an added 57 hp upping the horses to 661 at 5400 rpm and a broad torque curve topping out at 738 lb-ft. The most powerful production engine ever to come out of Mercedes is de-tuned to protect a more serious version of Mercedes’ five-speed automatic racing transmission equipped with AMG’s latest Speedshift software.
Other upgrades to the AMG SL65 are a wider stance and 20” rear, 19” front wheels for greater stability and enormous grip complemented by considerably flared fenders. Indeed the car is so wide it mimics the low, wide profile of a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Braking is effected by 15” drilled through rotors onto which 6 piston calipers apply the stopping power.
With more power than any despot could know what to do with, the Black SL65 stability control system allows fluid, smooth driving with little or no power-induced oversteer. Downshifts are almost imperceptible, and combined with the smoothness of the V-12, it’s often necessary to monitor the tach to make sure you’re in the correct gear. Heart stopping, the turbos can spool up and dish out more power than you thought you asked for. Somebody stop me!
A masculine and elegant extrapolation of the Mercedes concept with ridiculous power and cost is only for those with deep pockets and an insatiable thirst for speed and one-upmanship. The AMG SL65 Black is but a sample of the many testosterone fueled male playthings to come from Mercedes.
See the AMG SL65 at the Official Mercedes Benz Website!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hey, amazing site! Keep it up! I will be difinatley be coming back in the near future =)
Thank you, a good read. Hopefully, more car reviews in future issues.
It’s a wonderful car! Great!
Such a beautiful car. My dream car.