(continued from the previous page)
The AMG instrument cluster is a completely new design. The black speedometer
has also been re-designed; and the same is true of the white rev counter which
has four integral LEDs to advise the driver of the optimum gearshift points.
Even More Twin-Turbo Power
The already
formidable 6.0-liter AMG V12 engine has been modified to produce more than 650
horsepower and a staggering 738 pound-feet of torque. Its twin turbochargers are
12 percent larger, passages for intake air and the turbo wastegates have been
modified, and the intake air intercooler is 30 percent more efficient. The
result is zero-to-60 mph acceleration of only 3.8 seconds, and an electronically
limited top speed of 198 mph.
Integrated within the trunk lid, a rear
spoiler automatically raises nearly five inches whenever the car reaches about
74 mph, creating downforce on the tail of the car at high speeds. From the rear,
the most eye-catching feature is its new carbon-fiber apron with air diffuser
ribs. Hidden within it is an active cooling system for the final drive and
40-percent locking differential.
AMG SpeedShift Plus Transmission
The Mercedes-Benz SL656 AMG Black series uses a beefed-up five-speed
automatic transmission with AMG's SpeedShift Plus shift control that provides
four shift modes: "C," "S," "M1" and "M2," which has 25 percent quicker shift
times than "M1." The torque converter's lockup clutch assures direct shifting in
all shifting scenarios, right from first gear, while an AMG automatic
"throttle-blipping" feature makes downshifting smooth yet exciting, even in
power-on turns.
Fully Adjustable Suspension
AMG has
developed a fully adjustable sport suspension for the new Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
Black Series. Adjustable coil-spring struts provide a proven motorsports
solution that allows fine tuning of shock absorber jounce and rebound, ride
height and wheel alignment.
Spring links camber struts, push-pull rods
and wheel carriers have been specially developed for this vehicle. Track width
is nearly four inches wider on the new Black Series car. A three-stage ESP
feature provides outstanding driving dynamics. With ESP on, the system senses
understeer or oversteer and applies the brakes on one wheel to counteract the
slide. In the "ESP Sport" mode, the driver can purposely slide the car to its
limit of control before the system reacts, while in "ESP off," the system is
fully turned off.
Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications
