The most
powerful street going Mercedes Benz out of the AMG factory, the SL 65 AMG Black Series stands as a
testament to what AMG cars are all about.
More than any other Mercedes Benz, the AMG SL 65 Black Series incorporates the philosophy of the company that
Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded 1967 in Großaspach. The Black Series -line of cars (SLK55, CLK63, C63, SL65 and SLS) are
the most extreme to have come out of the AMG factory and to wear the three-pointed
Mercedes Benz star. They look, feel, and sound like racecars. They drive wild
and uncompromising, and they can give a scare to the most seasoned driver. Simply,
because that is what street legal race cars do.
Unveiled in Monterey in 2008, the SL 65 AMG Black Series was built by AMG exclusively for the model
year ‘09. With only 350 cars produced world-wide and no more than 175 making it
to the United States, the SL 65 AMG Black
Series is a true “unicorn”. Based on the Mercedes R230 – SL 65 AMG, the Black Series received major
modifications including a wider track width, fixed roof (making it a SL coupe),
retractable spoiler, redesigned carbon fiber hood, side panels and trunk, larger
brakes, and a 550-pound weight reduction.
The 6.0 liter BiTurbo V12 (M275) engine was modified by
adding larger turbochargers, increasing air intake and adding a high-flow
exhaust system. Producing 661 HP and 738 LB FT of torque, the SL 65 AMG Black Series still stands as
the most powerful roadgoing car to have left the AMG or Mercedes Benz factory
to date.
The driving characteristics of the SL 65 AMG Black Series are as unique as the production, no other
car is like it. It takes a special kind of sense to make the right
modifications to these cars and to keep the car under control. With RENNtech
upgrades the AMG SL 65 Black Series makes
810 HP (+149 hp) and 1000 LB FT (+262 lb ft) of torque which is transferred to
the wheels through a custom limited slip differential and transmission upgrade.
To reduce brake fade and increase stopping power, carbon fiber airducts and
larger rear brakes were installed to rain in all the added horse power.
Unwarranted as this may seem, making fast cars go faster is
what RENNtech does, and doing that without compromising safety, reliability or
comfort. Well, strike comfort, because this is not about comfort. The Black Series cars were not made for
comfort, or style, or even straight down the line speed. They were built to rouse
the spirit, awaken the devil, and to scare the living daylights out of you and
those you pass on the highway. No compromises made there.
So, this one is for you Herr Aufrecht and Herr Melcher!
Here’s to you saying, This Mercedes is
not fast enough! (or Schneller!) 50 years ago. Here’s to knowing
that life would be quiet, comfortable, compliant, and quite dull without AMG and the Black Series. And here’s to making a very fast Mercedes Benz go
even faster!
