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A 661-Horsepower Titan Among Titans
Presenting a few figures to unclog your arteries: 661 horsepower, 738 pound-feet of torque, a $300,000 price tag, claimed 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, a top speed electronically limited to . . . 200 mph. Ahhh. You may now skip tonight's dose of Lipitor.
The new top model in the AMG lineup, the twin-turbocharged, V-12 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series will slip into American traffic this January as inconspicuously as a librarian redecorating her desk with a chain saw. From the front or back, the Black Series resembles a mad, robotic bulldog, its leviathan fender flares stretching overall width to nearly six and a half feet. Every body panel except the rear fenders and the doors is made of lightweight carbon fiber -- including the new fixed roof, which hides an integrated roll bar. The rear apron incorporates an underbody diffuser for improved downforce; also assisting is a rear wing that automatically rises above 75 mph.
AMG employs 60 engine-builders, 40 of whom are trained to produce V-12s. Each SL65 Black Series powerplant is assembled by one of those men from start to finish, a process that takes about seven hours (including testing). Compared with the "normal" SL65, the Black Series gets redesigned, better-breathing turbos; a modified intake tract; and a reengineered exhaust with reduced backpressure. The resulting 6.0-liter monster produces so much torque, AMG uses an electronic limiter to keep the madness in check. Without it, the blown V-12 would produce more like 885 pound-feet. Incredibly, despite the power boost, the Black Series delivers five percent better fuel efficiency than the standard SL65.
The superb Mercedes seven-speed automatic simply can't handle even the "limited" 738 pound-feet, so the Black Series gets the stouter five-speed auto with paddle shifters. The transmission offers four program modes, including two full-manual programs (M2 shifting 20 percent quicker than M1). Like an expert driver, the automatic also performs double-clutch downshifts, helping to prevent sudden load changes that could diminish stability when entering fast corners or driving on slick surfaces.
Full Article: First drive of the amazing 661-hp Mercedes SL65 AMG Black - Motor Trend
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