Over the past year we have seen numerous spy photos and videos of the SL 65 AMG Black Series, but besides an Autoweek story last month, nothing concrete in terms of specifications has emerged, until now. After a select group of journalists were given a sneak peek at the New York Auto Show last month with specific embargo restrictions, MotorTrend online edition is one of the first to come forth.

In an effort to put the SL 65 AMG Black Series into perspective for their American audience, MotorTrend makes a laughable analogy, which compares a road going hyper sports car to a professional race car that can barely get out of it's own way, “the SL65 AMG Black Series is roughly akin to the SL65 AMG what a Dodge Charger Nextel Cup car is to a Dodge Charger SRT-8.” Surely, taken out of context, but the comparison is somewhat out of place.

Fine wine versus wine cooler debate aside, the SL 65 AMG gets put on a weight loss program which results in 6.1 pounds per horsepower as opposed to the 7.7-pounds from the standard SL 65 AMG. No details have been provided about how Mercedes extracted a conservative 66 hp for a total of 670 hp from the 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12, although it is most likely from an engine management upgrade plus some light-weight internal engine components. Capable of 220 mph but electronically limited to 186 mph (300 km/h), 0-60 mph arrives in less than 4.0 seconds.

The weight loss continues with carbon fiber body panels such as the hood, fenders and roof. Simultaneously, the entire chassis benefits from more rigidity as a result of the fixed roof as well as the removal of additional components and high strength chassis reinforcements (88 pounds worth) that comes with the folding roof of the SL 65 AMG. Other sprinkles of carbon fiber are found in a rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler which provides approximately 77 pounds of additional downforce. In total, 570 pounds are relieved for a kerb weight of 4080 pounds.

For the suspension, electro-hydraulic Active Body Control dampener units get tossed in the bin in favor of adjustable coilover spring/struts. Naturally, carbon-ceramic brakes will be included along with lightweight forged alloy one-piece wheels wrapped in 265/35ZR-19 (front), 325/30ZR-20 (rear) Dunlop Maxx GT tires.

With only 350 units to be sold worldwide, the SL Black Series is expected to make its public debut at the German Grand Prix in July with deliveries commencing in 2009.

Performance meets designer labels. This is what the new SL 63 AMG Edition IWC is all about; the desire to marry hi-performance with plush luxury. As a result of the partnership with Swiss watchmaker IWC, which first bore fruit with the old CLS 55 AMG, SL 63 AMG has gone into hi-designer mode as well. The car is fitted with all sorts of special fittings, most of which serve as beautifying agents, such as the Tobago brown nappa leather upholstery, which makes a unique look to the SL 63 AMG. Carbon matte trim inside is not only eye candy but also geared for performance. AMG badging is apparent everywhere, as expected. Other telltale signs that this is exclusive include the IWC logo at the centre console, black floor mats featuring Tobago Brown leather piping. The SL 63 AMG Edition IWC will be the first vehicle to be offered with the all-new designo magno Kashmir white finish. Steering wheels is not normal either, featuring a flat-bottom design so well loved by sporting automakers nowadays.

The car still sports AMG’s 6.2-litre V8 pushing out its 386kW/ 525 bhp and torque of 630Nm through the new AMG seven-speed MCT transmission, good for 0 – 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, limited to a top whack of 300km/h. Only 200 units will be made and availability is November 2008.

Limited edition model offered in cooperation with IWC Schaffhausen: SL 63 AMG Edition IWC: Exclusive AMG Roadster with Choice Interior Appointments and Compelling Technological Features

The AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO has developed a new limited edition vehicle, the exclusive SL 63 AMG Edition IWC. Limited to a total of 200 units, the new roadster features an eye-catching designo magno Kashmir white finish as well as an AMG Exterior Carbon package with a matte surface. In keeping with the exterior appearance, the vehicle’s interior is fitted with Carbon matte trim as well as Tobago Brown nappa leather upholstery that creates additional visual and tactile highlights. In addition, the vehicle features the AMG Performance package to ensure unparalleled handling. All SL 63 AMG Edition IWC vehicles will be delivered to customers along with an exquisite “Grosser Ingenieur” (Great Engineer) watch from the renowned Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen.

The SL 63 AMG Edition IWC will be the first vehicle to be offered with the all-new designo magno Kashmir white finish. An interesting contrast to this color is formed by the components with a Carbon matte finish: the trailing edge , the diffusor insert in the lower back panel, and the side air vents on the front apron. In stylistic sync with these components is the Carbon matte trim on the center console and the interior door panels.

They are harmoniously augmented by the Tobago Brown nappa leather upholstery on the electronically adjustable AMG sports seats, which feature multicontour and memory functions, heating, an AMG-specific perforation pattern, a special design, and AMG badges. The vehicle’s limited edition status is discreetly emphasized by black AMG floormats with Tobago Brown leather piping, AMG door sills with white illuminated AMGlettering, and the IWC logo on the lid of the center console.

To ensure that the driver remains in perfect control of his or her vehicle, the two-tone AMGPerformance steering wheel has a reduced diameter, a rim that’s flattened at the bottom, and silver-finish aluminum gearshift paddles. The steering wheel is part of the Performance package, which also includes forged 19-inch AMG light alloy, double-spoke wheels with a titanium gray finish and polished surfaces. The 8.5-inch and 9.5-inch rims sport 255/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 19 format tires, respectively.

The front axle is equipped with internally ventilated, perforated composite disc brakes (390 x 36 mm) that keep braking distances to a minimum and ensure the vehicle is extremely resistant to fading. Handling is further enhanced by other technical features from the Performance package, including a rear-axle, multi-disc limited-slip differential with a lock factor of 40 percent, as well as an AMG Performance chassis equipped with Active Body Control.

AMG naturally aspirated V8 with 6.3 liters displacement and 386 kW/525 hp

The drive system of the SL 63 AMG Edition IWC will provide motorists with an exhilarating driving experience. Boasting a top output of 386 kW/525 hp and a maximum torque of 630 Nm, the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine is augmented by an extremely responsive partner in the shape of the all-new AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed sports transmission. The SL 63 AMG Edition IWC accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 300 km/h.

Mercedes-AMG and IWC Schaffhausen: A luxurious partnership

Along with the vehicle, buyers of the SL 63 AMG Edition IWC will also receive a limited edition model of IWC’s “Grosser Ingenieur” watch. This precious chronometer has a stainless steel housing measuring an impressive 45.5 millimeters in diameter. The design of the watch’s wristband and face compliment the vehicle concept. In addition, the watch’s bottom is made of sapphire glass that reveals the intricate mechanical clockwork with its automatic Pellaton winding system.

Mercedes-AMG has been collaborating with the time-honored Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen since 2004. In October of that year, the two companies presented their first jointly designed vehicle, the CLS 55 AMG “IWC Engineer.”

Customers will be able to order the SL 63 AMG Edition IWC beginning in fall 2008 , and vehicle deliveries will commence in November 2008. The model will be limited to 200 units.

After months of spy shots and speculation, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series is finally out in the open. And with a $320,000 price tag, a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 and only 200 units on their way to the U.S., it's a serious stopgap between the deceased SLR and Mercedes' 2011 SLC gullwing supercar.

Mercedes' in-house tuners applied their tried and true philosophy to the SL65 AMG Black Series, beginning with a carbon fiber hood, fenders and trunk, along with nixing the retractable hard top in favor of a fixed carbon fiber roof with an integrated roll cage. As such, the Black is 550 pounds lighter than the stock SL65, coming in at 4,122 pounds.

Seven vents – three in the bumper, two on the hood and two in the fenders – feed copious quantities of air to the 6.0-liter V12, fitted with a duo of upgraded turbochargers. Power is up to 661 hp available at 5,400 rpm, while torque remains the same at 738 lb.-ft. With a five-speed automatic gearbox equipped with AMG's speedshift software, the Black can hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds on its way to a gearing-limited top speed of 199 mph.

Expect the SL65 AMG Black Series to debut in Paris, with sales beginning in the U.S. early next year.

Inside the Latest Supercar From Mercedes-Benz
By Andreas Stahl, Contributor

Date posted: 07-10-2008


The fastest, most powerful — hell, the most outrageous — series production road car to hail from Mercedes-Benz's storied AMG performance division is finally here: the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series.

The latest in a line of performance cars to wear the increasingly revered Black Series badge, this new coupe with its 670-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 picks up where the soon-to-be discontinued SLR McLaren coupe leaves off. It provides supercar performance, highly individual exterior styling, a sumptuous two-seat cabin and guaranteed top-shelf exclusivity thanks to a $300,000 price tag.

A Very Limited Edition
To be produced in a limited run of just 350 (200 of which are bound for North America), the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series is proof Mercedes-Benz is now more determined than ever to mix it with the supercar elite, and not only with the odd homologation special like the old CLK GTR but also with an extended range of high-priced performance cars based on existing AMG models.

Up until now, details of the new coupe have been vague at best. In a bid to quell speculation, however, the German carmaker has come clean on its most radical road car ever, allowing access to the SL65 AMG Black Series during a session at the Mas du Clos circuit in France.

Based upon the SL65 AMG, this latest Black Series model follows the lead of the earlier SLK55 AMG and CLK63 AMG Black Series with a heavy focus on weight-saving and extensive alterations to the mechanical package, all aimed at creating a car worthy of filling the void soon to be left by the exiting SLR. It also functions as a test bed for developments slated for Mercedes-Benz's upcoming SLC — a car described by insiders as the spiritual successor to the iconic 300 SL, complete with gullwing doors, which is due out in 2011.

Bigger Turbos
The engine is a tuned version of the standard SL65 AMG's potent twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12. Running larger turbochargers, a bigger intercooler and revised exhaust, output has been bumped up by 57 hp to 670 horsepower at 5,400 rpm. Torque remains at 738 pound-feet between 2,200 and 4,200 rpm, and apparently it's actually limited from peak output claimed to be in the region of 885 lb-ft in the interests of ensuring the life of the drivetrain components.

Harnessing it all is a reworked version of Mercedes-Benz's aging five-speed automatic gearbox complete with remote shift paddles mounted on the back of the steering wheel. It's the only existing Mercedes-Benz gearbox capable of handling the engine's prodigious torque load, and it has been programmed with AMG's latest Speedshift software that provides four different shift programs: C (comfort), S (sport), M1 (manual) and M2 (an alternative manual mode that is claimed to shift up to 25 percent faster and with a more aggressive action than M1).

It also gets a double-clutch function that introduces a hearty blip of the throttle during downshifts for quicker gearchanges, added chassis stability and a smoother transfer of power under heavy braking. "We're conscious that many customers will want to take their car to the track," says Tobias Moers, AMG's development boss. "The new gearbox setup has been developed with this in mind."

Being a Mercedes-Benz, the Black Series has an impressive array of electronic driving aids. The specification sheet includes the latest in ABS, brake assist and stability control — the latter of which offers the driver a choice of three distinct modes, either standard, sport or completely disengaged. AMG has also seen fit to provide the SL65 AMG Black Series with a limited-slip differential.

Supercar Stats
With an impressive weight-to-power ratio of 6.15 pounds per horsepower and just about every electronic and mechanical traction-enhancing feature in the book, how quick is the new über SL in a straight line?

Moers says validation testing is not yet finalized, but even at this early stage he is confident enough in the SL65 AMG Black Series to divulge that 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration will be achieved in "less than 3.9 seconds." It doesn't end there. While the results remain unofficial, Moers also puts acceleration to 200 km/h (124 mph) at "below 10 seconds" and acceleration to 300 km/h (186 mph) at "inside 30 seconds." Top speed is limited to 320 km/h (199 mph). "It's more a precautionary measure with the tires than any concern with the car's aerodynamics," explains Moers.

Hinting at the new car's dynamic ability, Moers claims the SL65 AMG Black Series is "as fast, if not faster than the SLR" around the Nürburgring, where much of its development has taken place in recent months. "In optimal conditions it should be possible to lap the Nordschleife in under 7:46," he says.

A Chassis To Match the Engine
The suspension incorporates lots of aluminum components, and while it shares its basic design with the SL65 AMG, Moers describes it as "all new." The ride height, wheel alignment, camber curves and damping rates are all adjustable, like those of the earlier SLK55 AMG and CLK63 AMG Black Series. New front suspension geometry also alters the ratio of the steering, making it 8 percent more direct than the SL65 AMG, and promises greater precision and sharper responses than any existing AMG model.

The car's track dimensions are dramatically wider, increased by 3.8 inches up front and 3.3 inches at the rear. The result is a truly aggressive stance that is further enhanced by purposeful-looking 19-by-9.5-inch and 20-by-11.5-inch OZ forged-aluminum wheels wrapped with 265/35ZR19 (front) and 325/30ZR20 (rear) Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tires.

In keeping with the track-biased thinking behind the new car, both the standard SL65 AMG's ABC (active body control) and AirMatic air springs have been binned. "On a car like this, there is no need for them," contends Moers. The brakes, meanwhile, are the largest AMG has ever applied to a road-going model, with giant vented and cross-drilled 15.4-inch steel rotors grabbed by six-piston calipers up front and 14.2-inch rotors with four-piston calipers at the rear.

Not Just an AMG Body Kit
The striking exterior of the SL65 AMG Black Series was created at AMG by its design boss, Claus Hieke. There are strands of the standard SL65 AMG's familiar DNA in various sections of the body. However, the visual link between the two is rather tenuous. The only features shared with lesser versions of Mercedes-Benz's upmarket roadster are the shape of the grille, headlamps, windscreen, mirrors, doors and taillamps. Everything else has been heavily reworked in a process that clearly places function over form.

At the front, gaping air ducts are mounted low on a heavily reworked bumper complete with an integral splitter to direct cooling air into the engine bay. They are accompanied by two sizable vents in the top of the hood, along with additional ports behind the front wheelwells — each of which serves to extract hot air away from the front end. Then there are the wheel flares. Like the shoulders of a heavyweight boxer waiting to unload a knockout punch, they're full of attitude.

The real highlight, though, is the roof. AMG replaced the standard SL65 AMG's folding aluminum hardtop with a fixed structure that incorporates new rear-quarter windows and a slightly larger rear window. It helps provide the car with a completely new character, while further back is a reshaped trunk lid housing a retractable spoiler that motors out by 4.7 inches on two supporting members to provide additional downforce at 75 mph.

The body construction is truly high-tech. Every panel apart from the aluminum doors is made of lightweight carbon fiber. The result is a curb weight of 4,123 pounds, a substantial 551 pounds less than a standard SL65.

Italian Performance, German Quality
One thing you should be able to count on is longevity. Like every other Mercedes-Benz model, the SL65 AMG Black Series has undergone an arduous development process, including an exhaustive 30,000 kilometers (18,641 miles) of circuit testing, some 15,000 km of which has taken place at the Nordschleife alone. "We've also run it in Death Valley and in Arjeplog," says Moers, referring to Mercedes-Benz's traditional hot- and cold-climate testing environments.

A total of 10 prototypes were built during the car's 18-month development process, at least two of which have been used to certify various crash regulations. European versions of the new car receive seatbelts anchored at the B-pillar and go without side airbags. Tougher side-impact regulations here, however, mean all U.S. versions will retain the standard SL65 AMG seats with integral seatbelts accompanied by side airbags.

Production of the SL65 AMG Black Series will take place in Mercedes-Benz's Bremen plant and the recently expanded AMG Performance Studio workshop in Affalterbach in Germany — the former supplying built-up chassis complete with driveline, with the latter responsible for the body and interior.

Mercedes-Benz is already holding more than 50 paid-up deposits for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series from North American customers, leaving fewer than 150 of the planned 200 cars destined for these shores still up for grabs. On the strength of what we've seen so far, don't count on the remaining few staying unaccounted for for much longer.