German Car Zone

Recession? What recession? Not in the cockpit of this $299,000 carbon-fiber bauble. Not in the engine bay stuffed full of 661 horses. Not anywhere near the sumo crouch of the new Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series, a limited-edition, twin-turbocharged two-seater that wards off any talk of "recession" like a mirror reflecting sunlight.

Does the world need such an extroverted, over-the-top vehicular plaything? Very much so, apparently. Of the 350 examples being built (half of which are headed to U.S. shores this year), a goodly portion were already sold well before the January release. Of course, there's no predicting how many of those buyers are overzealous, overmortgaged, and headed for a quick wheeled foreclosure, but you get the idea. The auto landscape's uppermost crust is apparently always hungry for new and extravagant playthings, financial "hiccups" be damned.


Base Price: $299,000
Price as tested: $299,000
Vehicle Layout: Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
Engine: 6.0L/661-hp/738-lb-ft twin-turbo SOHC 36-valve V-12
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Curb Weight: (dist f/r) 4221 lb (52/48%)
Wheelbase: 100.8 in
Length x Width x Height: 180.7 x 77.2 x 51.6 in
0-60 mph: 3.6 sec
Quarter mile: 11.6 sec @ 123.9 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 105 ft
MT figure eight: 24.6 sec @ 0.81 g (avg)
Lateral acceleration: 0.96 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy fuel econ: 12/19 mpg (MT est)
CO2 Emissions: 1.35 lb/mile
On Sale In U.S. - Currently


Full Article: Motor Trend - First Test: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series


M

ZR1 is faster around the figure eight track (23,7 sec) but the SL65 B:S looks more masculine with its wide shoulders

^The SL65 is definitely not the best track tool out there but it's hell right the most aggressive looking of them all

All I know is that they better have one of these at Detroit or the Chicago auto shows because I know I'll likely never see one at the dealer or on the road.

M

^I'll pray for u bro

Its too damn heavy.. I can`t believe it more than 800lbs over the ZR1!

The BS should have been a 63 model.

^But wouldn't u agree that it's immensely impressive considering it's weight?

That goes without question!

I love everthing else about it except the seats on the US versions which adds even more weight. MB should have done everything thay could to preserve those sport-seats which are considerably lighter.

I don`t think it would have been a problem stuffing airbag sensers and airbags in those thin seats. It would have cost a little extra which is obviously what MB wanted to avoid.

Heck, if your spending $300,000 on a sports car like this a little extra $2000 on sports seats isn`t gonna hurt.

I'd much rather have the CLK DTM. Among other things it's about 200 kg lighter.

I don't think the engine is the reason why its that much heavier, though it plays a role. It is the SL architecture, which is heavy to begin with. A 63 engine with this car would have resulted in a slower vehicle, despite any weight reduction. Seems to me a SLK 63 Black series is the car to think up. Perhaps in SLK's next generation. the car would be about 550 hp (tuned, NA) and around 3,300 lbs, with all the goodies that come from "blacking" it out. Not to mention it would have a heck of a transmission in MCT, and perhaps a much more palpable sub $150k price