Mercedes' SL65 AMG Black Series mule at work around Nurburgring.
Mercedes' SL65 AMG Black Series mule at work around Nurburgring.
KEY POINTS:
This is the fastest, most powerful, most exclusive road car Mercedes-Benz has ever built - the SL65 AMG Black Series.
While official pictures are not yet available, early indications and these spy shots make it obvious that this is one special supercar.
Built by Mercedes-Benz' performance house AMGand powered by a tuned evolution of the 6-litre turbocharged V12 available in the SL600, the SL65 AMG Black Series produces around 495kW (660bhp) and 1000Nm of torque.
Top Speed is expected to be 320km/h - a first for any AMG product - while the zero to 100km/h sprint is likely to take less than four seconds.
To make the most of this performance, AMG engineers have totally reinvented the SL's chassis, suspension and bodywork to ensure the car has handling to match its major pace.
Fully adjustable suspension, ceramic brakes and a lightweight, race- inspired interior are just some of the tantalising features tipped to complete the package - as is bespoke carbon fibre bodywork.
As a result, the SL65 looks astonishing lapping the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany.
The car is at least 20cm wider than standard and gets flared wheel arches to cover huge, magnesium alloy wheels.
To help cool the engine, there are huge vents cut into the bonnet and front wings, as well as an ultra wide front grille.
Perhaps the most radical change, however, is that the car is no longer even a coupe cabriolet.
To ensure the chassis is ultra stiff, engineers have added a substantial roll cage, which is now cloaked in a one-piece carbon fibre roof.
This new roof not only saves weight, but also improves the aerodynamics, as the lid has been reprofiled and stretches further over the rear of the car than before.
To add to the aerodynamic package, the SL also gets a moveable rear wing plus huge venturi tunnels underneath the car which promise to aid stability at speed.
Mercedes-Benz has yet to announce the cost of the car because as the newcomer is likely to exceed the performance of the SLR, it's also likely to exceed its price.
