Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series: Twin Turbo Aggression

Motoring Channel Staff - 11/July/2008

Affalterbach, Germany — The German track special is back in black. 

Boasting a 493kW (670hp) twin turbo V12 engine, the all-new Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series has returned to the battle front, fresh from the AMG Performance Studio.

Based on the recently updated Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, this ultra-powerful 2-seater sports car benefits from a touring car style wide body kit giving it more width and hence handling stability.

Delivering a shocking 1000Nm to the rear wheels, this is the kind of car that makes Lamborghini owners nervous, and as Mercedes explains, this super powerful sports coupe "represents the continuation of the highly successful Black Series strategy pursued by AMG, the Mercedes-Benz Cars Performance brand".

Labelling it a "motorsport engineering thoroughbred" that opens up "new drive dynamic vistas to sports car enthusiasts", the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series is powered by a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine.

Peak power of 493kW hits the crankshaft @ 5400rpm, while peak torque of 1000Nm arrives @ 2200rpm and is sustained until 4200rpm. 

AMG says that without a 'limiter' the engine easily produces 1200Nm of torque, which would put it in exclusive company. Think Bugatti Veyron.

Everything about the car has been tuned, modified and upgraded to provide it with a level of performance that will destroy most other cars on the road, if not the race track.

With almost 500 kilowatts of power the vehicle's top speed is limited to 320km/h - but could go much faster without the electronic governance.

The zero to 100km/h sprint takes 3.9 seconds, which is extremely fast, and to counter the huge acceleration the brakes have also been upgraded to deliver immense and repeated stopping power.

Increasing V12's engine power from the 'standard' 450kW to 493kW involved a number of changes to the motor's componentry.

Hand built using AMG's "one man – one engine" philosophy, the 5980cc powerplant gets a pair of new turbochargers that are 12% larger and have special sprial cross-sections to develop more power.

The turbo wastegate ducts have been modified to increase air throughput, and Mercedes-Benz has also added "modified intake air ducting" which results "in an even more spontaneous response".

There's also a new "charge air cooler" that is 30% more powerful according to the German company. It combines with a modified water cooling system that is guaranteed to work under "extreme dynamic driving conditions" and even at high outside temperatures which will be of interest to the select few Australians who can afford one. 

New rear silencers help to reduce exhaust gas back pressure which also increases power development, and there's also a side effect of this - improved engine acoustics through the twin trapezoid exhaust outlets pipes.

All this new power is contained with a wider, lower, sleeker body shell. Even the engine hood is new, featuring Evolution-inspired vents to allow hot air to be channeled out of the engine bay.

The Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series gains a larger front apron with wider air dams that allow higher volumes of air to reach the engine intake systems, and is also more aerodynamic.

The entire body has been modified to make it more stable and controllable at high speeds by increasing downforce. This is helped by the wider front apron, extended side skirts, a modified rear apron with a deep central diffuser channeland even a pop-up rear spoiler.

With a muscular stance that betrays its intent as clear as day, the SL 65 AMG Black Series is best described as a race car that can be driven on the road.

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