New Car: 2009 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series

Mercedes has finally divulged the official details on the SL65 AMG Black Series, and it’s even more impressive than our spy reports indicated.

AMG engineers took the SL65 AMG—already a ridiculously fast car—and began removing weight. First they removed the heavy mechanism for the folding hardtop and replaced it with a fixed roof that cuts a flatter line across the car. The front splitter, hood, trunklid, and rear spoiler are all made of carbon fiber to further trim weight. Overall, Mercedes says curb weight is down 550 pounds versus the SL65, to around 4000.

Power comes from the same twin-turbo 6.0-liter V-12 engine as the regular SL65, but with a heavy dose of adrenaline. That engine already produces 604 horsepower, but AMG saw fit to endow the Black Series with 661 horses at 5400 rpm. Torque output is unchanged at 738 pound-feet, although Mercedes says the engine is detuned from 885, likely to keep the heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission alive. The Black Series’ transmission, however, adds a fourth transmission setting, M2 manual mode, which shifts a claimed 25 percent quicker than M1 mode. As before, there are also Comfort and Sport settings for the automatic modes.

The extra oomph comes courtesy of new, larger turbochargers, revised intake ducting, and a new exhaust system. There’s also a new intercooler that AMG says reduces intake charge temperatures by 30 percent, and an upgraded cooling system to keep the engine from melting itself.

AMG expects the car to cover the 0-to-62-mph sprint in 3.9 seconds, although we’ve gotten 3.8 out of an SL65. Getting the SL65 Black Series to hook up for a quick launch will likely be next to impossible, as it is in the regular SL65. Top speed is electronically limited to 320 km/h—just shy of 199 mph.

The Black Series rides on a much-revised suspension, too. To begin with, the system is completely adjustable, allowing drivers to adjust damping rates and ride height. The car also has a wider footprint, with track increased by 3.8 inches up front and 3.3 inches in back—maybe you noticed the outrageous fender flares?—and the steering geometry has been revised for a more direct feel.

In front, 19-inch lightweight wheels surround 15.3-inch vented-and-crossdrilled brake discs gripped by six-piston calipers. Rear wheels measure 20 inches, with 14.2-inch disc brakes and four-piston calipers. Dunlop Sport Maxx GT tires attempt to keep things stuck to the road. And keeping drivers out of gravel traps is Mercedes’ ubiquitous stability control with three modes of assistance: normal, sport, and off.