It’s hard to imagine what “over the top” means in a Mercedes SLS AMG. This car’s already the wildest member of a wild family, combining AMG’s awesomely uncivilized hand-built performance engines with an extravagant, gull-winged body that stands out even when compared to other hypercars. So how do you top that?
Well, the SLS AMG Black Series has a few ideas of how to do that. AMG’s “Black Series” moniker indicates that this particular SLS AMG has been stripped down further and prepared for the track. It’s as close as you can get to having a race car for the street, and it retains much of its on-road comfort as well.
Nowhere are this car’s capabilities more clear than on the track, of course, and Mercedes gave us the chance to unleash the SLS AMG Black Series at Willow Springs racetrack, near Los Angeles.
From the start, the SLS AMG Black Series is right at home on the track. The standard SLS AMG is plenty impressive, with double wishbones at each corner. For the Black Series, it’s dialed up with stiffer adaptive coilover shocks and two-piece ceramic brakes. The stability control has been recalibrated, so it’s less intrusive during spirited driving. The massive wheels are unique to the Black Series and designed for strength and low weight. Judicious weight trimming results in a 3,417-pound curb weight. The titanium exhaust is almost 30 pounds lighter than previously. All told, 154 pounds have been removed from the SLS AMG Black Series. The engine also has a special gas-filled strut bracing it against the body, to eliminate load shifts on the track.
The boosted suspension is necessary, to help keep the wheels on the road. The 6.3 liter naturally-aspirated V-8 has been upgraded with a revised valvetrain, increased redline, remapped engine control and a modified intake manifold. These tweaks have added 39 horsepower to the already powerful hand-built engine, bringing total output to 622 horsepower and making the Black Series the most powerful Mercedes except for the SLS AMG Electric Drive. Additional internal changes have been made to adapt the engine to race conditions. On a fast track like Willow Springs, the SLS AMG Black Series will hit 60 in just 3½ seconds and quickly top 140 — and even then, it’s got plenty more speed in it. Top speed is 196 mph. It is balanced at speed, and retains enough composure to keep the fun in high-speed driving as well. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has been recalibrated to handle the additional power. This is a fast and smooth-shifting transmission that handles the power demands well. In addition to manual and sport modes, the AMG transmission also matches revs on downshifts, providing smoother, faster shifts and a bit of aural drama as well.
Off of the track, the Black Series has a harder edge than the standard version, thanks to the stiffer suspension and electronic locking rear differential. Interior appointments are more serious as well, with leather and Alcantara in black-on-black or black-and-red. The flat-bottomed race-style steering wheel is finished with faux suede.The console is carbon fiber, and AMG allows the COMAND infotainment system to be deleted to trim additional weight. For drivers who want their tunes, a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system’s still available.
The diet proceeds to the exterior of the car, as well, where body panels such as the hood, underbody braces, and torque tube between the engine and transmission are made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. A lighter lithium-ion battery replaces the conventional battery to shave another 17 pounds. Other design tweaks come from the SLS AMG GT3 race car, such as the wide flared fenders, front, rear and side skirting and a rear diffuser. The front splitter is carbon fiber, and larger air intakes with carbon fiber wings help to direct air into the radiator. It’s not all business, of course; the ground effects have been styled to match the car. The SLS AMG Black Series looks aggressive, but also handsome — though that massive rear wing with aluminum braces leaves no doubt as to this car’s purpose.
This definitely is the ultimate gullwing. The SLS AMG Black Series promises good times. Pricing starts at $275,000, compared to $201,500 for the standard SLS AMG.
