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2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury, Racing

Now Even Sharper Than The Razor's Edge

There have been four Black Series models since the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG Black Series introduced itself to European audiences in 2006. Following that, the Black Series club has hosted appearances by the 2008 CLK63 AMG Black Series, the 2009 SL65 AMG Black Series and last year's 2013 C63 AMG Black Series. The sixth member of the group is one we would have thought already was a Black Series car in its standard guise. Right out of the box, the SLS AMG is loud, frenetic, cozy, boisterous and frightfully easy to oversteer. How much more Black did it need to get?

Quite a bit so, apparently. The SLS AMG Black Series has lost weight, gained power and been refitted with upgrades and aero bits from front to rear. If you liked the way it looked before, you'll probably be an even bigger fan of this one. If you thought it looked ungainly, well, this one should stay even further away from pageants. Regardless of where you come down this is the best SLS AMG variant we've driven.

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2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series proves that less is more

Seyth Miersma — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

As we learned some time ago, the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is one bad boy. The car boasts 622 total horsepower, a top speed of 196 miles per hour with 0-60 coming up in 3.5 seconds, and has shed 154 pounds when compared with the "base" SLS AMG.

Seeing the Black Series in the metal for the first time this morning at the LA Auto Show, we were struck by the sheer volume of carbon fiber that has been employed in its manufacture. From the massive front splitter to the towering wing out back, the SLS is festooned with as much visible carbon as we've seen this side of a Koenigsegg.

Check back on our initial report of the SLS AMG Black Series launch to refresh your memory about the supercar, or just dive into our gallery showing the car's debut amongst the media hordes.

Continue reading The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series proves that less is more

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series proves that less is more originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes unleashes first SLS AMG Black Series trailer

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

A Mercedes-Benz product isn't officially launched until the release of rolling footage set to driving choral strains akin to O Fortuna. We can hereby report that the launch of the SLS AMG Black Series is done and dusted, the minute-long video below providing a soundtrack for the 622-horsepower coupe's recent announcement.

The SLS AMG Black Series will sit still for our own cameras during its world premiere at the 2012 LA Auto Show at the end of the month. Until then, you can get your fix of the lighter, stiffer, angrier, faster, 196-mph gullwing in moving pictures below.

Continue reading Mercedes unleashes first SLS AMG Black Series trailer

Mercedes unleashes first SLS AMG Black Series trailer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught on the 'Ring

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Th unveiling of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series isn't that far off. Prototypes have been popping up in spy photographers' image banks for a while, now we have some video of the hardest SLS AMG the street-legal world will ever know.

The specification remains a mystery, though, even down to what engine will find its way tucked well back under that long hood. The money seems to be on a last hurrah for the 6.2-liter V8, uprated to something beyond 600 horsepower from its current 563 through engineering and not forced induction. A report in Car and Driver predicts the Black Series will lose 100 or so pounds and get strengthened running gear to cope, along with the usual fare that makes every Black Series a volcanically hard performance tool.

Scroll down for a look at the videos and to hear the sound through its quad pipes.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught on the 'Ring

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught on the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold

Noah Joseph — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has a history of offering performance models that would make any niche supercar manufacturer cower. The latest among them is the SLS AMG, but the gullwing coupe and its roadster counterpart aren't the extent of what the German automaker's skunkworks have in store. No, that place of honor at the top of the Mercedes-Benz lineup will soon be taken by an SLS AMG Black Series.

Following in the footsteps of the SLK55 AMG Black Series, CLK63 AMG Black Series, SL65 AMG Black Series and (most recently) the C63 AMG Black Series, the new SLS AMG Black Series promises to eclipse them all with an anticipated 560 horsepower, reduced curb weight and aggressive aerodynamics package.

These spy shots, snapped while the vehicle was undergoing cold-weather testing in the frigid north, also show the tell-tale widened fenders to house the upgraded rolling stock and a new front bumper to feed the over-clocked engine with all the air it needs to breathe.

We're told to expect the SLS AMG Black Series sometime next year, but you can check out the spy shots now in our high-resolution image gallery.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to spawn Black Series

Zach Bowman — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The gossipmongers at Autocar are reporting that the race-bred Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 that's getting its American debut at the New York Auto Show this week may be the foundation for a street-legal SLS AMG Black Series. We've heard rumors of a racier SLS for some time, but this is the first time we've heard heard the BS *ahem* designation attached to the project, and we expect a production roadster debut before we see a harder-core version of the coupe, so it'll probably be a bit of a wait.

Naturally, we're always down with hotter versions of our favorite supercars, and if the reports turn out to be true, the wicked gullwing shouldn't disappoint. Supposedly the boffins at AMG will find a way to squeeze even more power from the standard 6.2-liter V8 and will do their best to pare down the coupe's weight at the same time.

The report reckons all the extra speed will set buyers back quite a bit, with early guesses saying the SLS AMG Black Series will cost somewhere around $275,000. Steep? Sure, but the good news is you've got some time to save your pennies. Autocar says the car won't see production until 2013.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 to spawn Black Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series coming in 2013

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

After initially announcing the project back in 2006, Mercedes-Benz finally lived up to anticipation when it unveiled its new top-of-the-line SLS AMG at the Frankfurt Motor Show. But despite the supercar's superlative performance figures, the stock SLS is emerging as only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. In addition to an upcoming all-electric version and anticipated roadster, reports are popping up again to confirm that the German automaker is indeed working on a Black Series version that will take the car's performance to the edge of the envelope.

The report in Autocar equates the difference between the existing SLS and the upcoming Black edition to the distance bridged from the Corvette Z06 to the ZR1. That's some standard to live up to, but if reports prove accurate, the SLS AMG Black Series should be up to the task. Whereas the stock SLS offers 563 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2-liter V8, the Black version is tipped to produce upwards of 600 hp and more than 500 lb-ft of twist from the same engine, tweaked with a larger air manifold, higher compression, new camshafts, a mechanical locking diff and more.

Driving through the same 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and coupled to a revised aerodynamics package and aggressive weight-reduction program, the SLS Black is tipped to drop the stock 0-62 time down from 3.8 seconds to below 3.5 seconds and boost the top speed from 195 to 208 miles per hour. A commensurate 50% price hike to around £155k (~$250k) would put the SLS AMG Black Series on par with the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano with the HGTE handling package, set to hit the scene some time around 2013.

Gallery: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series coming in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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