Mercedes SL Black Series to get 680HP, more turbo AMG models planned

Posted Sat Mar 15 2008 7:14 PM by Siddharth Raja

Mercedes-Benz and its in-house tuner AMG recently revealed its updated SL fleet but there’s one important model that we still are yet to see. The car is the upcoming SL Black Series from AMG, a super-sports version of the SL that could potentially upset the SLR flagship in the performance stakes. Numerous prototypes have been spotted testing in Germany, each of them sporting new bumpers, widened fenders and a GT wing, and a preview of the car will be on display at this weekend’s Melbourne GP in the form of the official SL63 safety car.

Some of features previewed by the safety car that’s expected to debut on the new SL Black Series include an uprated cooling system, heavy-duty composite brakes, carbon-fiber panels, and a fixed roof, which when combined with the composite panels saves roughly 220kg from the standard model’s kerb weight.

Unlike the F1 safety car, which is based on the SL63, AutoWeek is reporting that the Black Series model will be based on the V12-powered SL65 from AMG. According to the source the engine’s output will be about 680hp. "We could have easily got 720hp without any significant modifications. In the end, though, we decided to dial it back," an insider told reporters.

In addition to the new Black Series, the source revealed that AMG would add turbocharging technology to the current SL63. In line with AMG’s movement away from the horsepower war, the source revealed that the turbos will work in conjunction with new direct injection technology to help boost efficiency and lower fuel consumption. "There will be a slight increase in power, but really it's all about creating optimal conditions for the introduction of direct injection," the source explained.

Mercedes-Benz SL63 Safety Car

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SL63 picked as 2008 F1 Safety Car

Gallery: Mercedes AMG

Reader Comments

Sat Mar 15 2008 11:36 PM
Anthony says

I seen my first Black Series CLK a few days ago and it is a knock-out, I'm sure the Black Series SL will be even better!
Sat Mar 15 2008 11:53 PM
Gus says

What a monster.
With that kind of horsepower, you can just about forget anything else from anyone else...
Sun Mar 16 2008 1:26 AM
CK says

As long as you are going in a straight line Gus. Mercedes should remember what the letters SL stood for when they were introduced. Look at the Pace Car then you know what they had to do to make it's handling good enough to run in front of the pack. And the Horsepowerwar is over thing must be a joke. Why should they add turbochargers to the V8 then? Because of the added direct injection? Not really.
Sun Mar 16 2008 3:46 AM
Gus says

Oh I'm sure it handles pretty well also.
I agree, the letters SL stood for something else, but I like a car with some heft to it, something solid, even if it means giving up some cornering abilities.
Sun Mar 16 2008 10:04 AM
HECTOR says

I see the horsepower war is alive and well. How utterly ridiculous it's to have an SL with a lot more ponies than the SLR supercar?
Sun Mar 16 2008 12:03 PM
CK says

Cause the ponies have to tow a really fat carriage ;) As you can read they had to replace the roof with a whole new fixed composite construction to get the kerb weight down. Were are talking here about 2000kg "Sport Light" Carbriolet. Can you imagine what would happen when they would put their effords into the development of a decent chassis for one of this cars?
Tue Mar 18 2008 7:15 AM
ben says

By the way... the SL Black Series was tested on the Nordschleife with a fabulous 7:36. Just four cars are faster than that: The Porsche Carrera GT, the GT2, the Koenigsegg and the Pagani Zonda F.
Any questions? ;-)
Wed Dec 31 2008 5:51 PM
mburleigh8 says

This is probably the hottest car available in the US.
The ZR1 Corvette is amazing, but this Mercedes is vertually perfect in every aspect, and the interior is sooo perfect i would never want to ever get out of this car.

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