2013 Audi A3

Mercedes' SL65 AMG Black Series takes its first dyno runs

 
5 7,617 views Dec 29, 2008

mercedes sl65 amg black series 021

mercedes sl65 amg black series 020

mercedes sl65 amg black series 020

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Buyers of the 2010 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series coupe will be happy to know they are getting what they paid for, as Automobile has proved with its hands-on dynamometer testing of the car. Generating 573hp and 682lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels, the car's big V12 will still have its work cut out for it when drivers start aiming for the claimed 3.9 second 0-60mph (96km/h) time.

By way of comparison, the Corvette ZR-1 weighs about 700lb (320kg) less than the SL65 AMG Black Series yet generates very close to the same amount of crank horsepower: 638hp (476kW) for the 'Vette, versus 651hp (485kW) for the Mercedes. Yet the Corvette only claims a 3.8-second 0-60mph time, despite wearing some of the biggest rear donuts available. The Nissan GTR, severely underpowered by comparison, but with the benefit of a 200lb (85kg) advantage and AWD, barely squeaks out a 3.9 second run to 60mph without the aid of traction control.

Even assuming the SL65 Black manages to pull off a GT-R like denial of the laws of physics on occasion, with the raw power on tap and far fewer interfering electronics, it will be a much more driver-dependent car.

Beyond the standing-start acceleration numbers, however, there's the matter of in-gear or rolling acceleration, which is a somewhat less traction-limited affair than propelling the hefty car from a dead stop. And that's where the SL65 Black will shine - exiting 80mph corners and rocketing toward the horizon, pushing through the speed-dense atmosphere with sheer brute force as it plunges toward its electronically limited 199mph (320km/h) top speed.
Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

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Comments (5)

  1. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 12/29/2008 10:39pm PST

    i would get one of these over a vette any day no matter the cost, its not all about straight line speed and how much grunt, i bet the vette cant get that power down as well as the amg.. one thing european cars recognise is that there is soo much more to a great car than a huge bonnet,biggest engine possible in there and big wheels.
     
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  2. ma_justinhk2000 avatar justinhk2000 Posted: 12/30/2008 7:49am PST

    azlan, i have to agree with you, the wheels are about the size of the bugatti veyron's. It might still be heavy but when you want to lay the power down, you can definetly feel seceure about it and not spin out. Moreover, this is also an extremely comfortable car so it gets the best of both worlds.
     
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  3. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 12/30/2008 9:16am PST

    To me, I'd rather have this than an SLR McLaren, so much better looking and more torque too! Oh yeah, it also costs less.
     
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  4. ma_I am the Doctor avatar I am the Doctor Posted: 12/30/2008 11:29am PST

    mmmmm....what a beautiful car. Much, much better than the (regualr SL) roadster.
     
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  5. ma_mburleigh8 avatar mburleigh8 Posted: 12/31/2008 2:41pm PST

    OOOO Man that would be an awsome car to own! but i would need to be makin mega bucks to get one of these bad boys.
     
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