Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: South African man sets speed record for blind - in 200 mph SL Black Series!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/09/report-south-african-man-sets-speed-record-for-blind-in-200-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black - Click above for high-res image gallery

Looks like Luc Costermans (a.k.a. the Blind Belgian) is no longer the world's fastest sight-challenged driver. The latest person to snatch the world land speed record for the blind is South Africa's Hein Wagner. Wagner, who has been blind since birth, pushed a borrowed Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series to 322.5 km/h, just a tick over 200 mph. That puts him in the Guinness Book of World Records, ahead of Costermans, and it's not the first record for Wagner, though.

This is the same man who became the first South African to set a world land speed record, sighted or not, back in 2005 when he pushed a Maserati to 167 MPH. The deposed champion, Costermans, can take consolation in being the first blind man to break the 300 km/h barrier. Wagner himself might have to be content with being the first to break 200 mph, as previous record holder Mike Newman hopes to take an 1,800-hp Keating TKR supercar well past that figure later this month. In fact Newman is going after the overall production car speed record of 257 mph currently held by the SSC Ultimate Aero.

For now at least, the record belongs to Wagner. His record run was achieved on the runway at the Upington International Airport in Northern Cape, South Africa, with copilot Ray Wakefield of Speedrecord SA riding shotgun. Wagner has always had an adventurous streak, having previously run the New York Marathon (in 4:27!), skydived (skydove?) from 10,000 feet, completed the Construction du Cap bike race solo, competed in the Cape-to-Rio yacht race, and he has even climbed the ten highest peaks in the Western Cape. Wagner is raising money for his Vision Trust organization, which makes technology more accessible to the blind.

So what's up next for Wagner? He plans to fly a Boeing from London to Johannesburg -- with passengers. It was probably hard enough to find one passenger for the drive in the Benz, getting a full load of passengers for the flight might take a bit more persuading. But what the heck, it's for a good cause, right? Thanks for the tip, Dean!

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

[Source: News 24]

REPORT: South African man sets speed record for blind - in 200 mph SL Black Series! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blind driverBlindDriverguinness book of world recordsGuinness World RecordGuinnessBookOfWorldRecordsGuinnessWorldRecordHein WagnerHeinWagnerland speed recordLandSpeedRecordLSRluc costermansLucCostermansMercedes SL 65 Black seriesMercedes-Benz SL 65 BlackMercedes-Benz SL 65 Black SeriesMercedes-benzSl65BlackMercedes-benzSl65BlackSeriesMercedesSl65BlackSeriesMike NewmanMikeNewmanSL 65 BlackSL 65 Black SeriesSL65sl65 amgsl65 black seriesSl65AmgSl65BlackSl65BlackSeriesSSCSSC Ultimate AeroSSC Ultimate Aero TTSscUltimateAeroSscUltimateAeroTtworld land speed record for the blindWorldLandSpeedRecordForTheBlindFri, 09 Oct 2009 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Time to change your desktop: new SL65 AMG Black Series wallpaper]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/time-to-change-your-desktop-new-sl65-amg-black-series-wallpaper/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/time-to-change-your-desktop-new-sl65-amg-black-series-wallpaper/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/24/time-to-change-your-desktop-new-sl65-amg-black-series-wallpaper/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click above for a high resolution image

Mercedes-Benz recently launched a dedicated website for the SL65 AMG Black Series, and it's loaded with goodies for anyone who can't get enough of the uber coupe. The site has detailed info on all of the Black Series' features, as well as some new studio photos that we haven't seen before. Best of all, they've provided six new desktop wallpapers available in normal, widescreen, and iPhone sizes. We've compiled these beautiful high-res photos in a gallery and included the original shots if that's not enough.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Wallpaper


Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

[Source: Mercedes AMG]

Time to change your desktop: new SL65 AMG Black Series wallpaper originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series2009Mercedes-benzSl65AmgBlackSeriesMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black SeriesMercedes-benzSl65AmgBlackSeriesSL65SL65 AMGSL65 Black SeriesSl65AmgSl65BlackSeriesThu, 24 Jul 2008 19:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Details on the Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/30/spy-shots-details-on-the-mercedes-benz-sl65-black-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/30/spy-shots-details-on-the-mercedes-benz-sl65-black-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/30/spy-shots-details-on-the-mercedes-benz-sl65-black-series/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've already been given a taste of what the next Mercedes SL will look like ahead of its official unveiling in Geneva this March and despite the previous spy shots, we were still in the dark about what would come after AMG worked its wizardry on Mercedes' new high-dollar coupe. CAR was able to get the exclusive details on the SL65, which is being built in cooperation with HWA, the same folks who develop vehicles for the DTM/German Touring Car Championship.

That means that prodigious power is only the tip of the iceberg. But to be specific, 670 hp and 737 lb.-ft. of torque will be squeezed from the supercharged V8, with torque being limited to 555 lb.-ft. in first and second gears to avoid all the oily bits from being strewn across the tarmac.

In keeping with the Black tradition, AMG will outfit the coupe with massively flared fenders, plenty of aero-enhanced body panels (made up of carbon fiber), upgraded brakes, and a new Sportshift transmission that uses a wet clutch to transmit power to seven speeds. 19-inch wheels will be mounted in front, with 20-inchers out back and according to CAR, the Black Series will be around 550 pounds lighter than its pedestrian counterpart.

To make sure that absolute power doesn't corrupt absolutely, the price of the SL65 Black Series is set around £193,000. Stiff, but considering the SL can be flung to 60 in 3.9 seconds and can top out at 200 mph, it's officially in supercar territory. Sales will begin six to nine months after the last SLR rolls off the line and will share the McMerc's exclusivity with only 400 examples being produced.

[Source: CAR]

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL

Spy Shots: Details on the Mercedes-Benz SL65 Black Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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