Confirmed: SL 65 AMG Black Series

Stuttgart has announced that the much anticipated SL 65 AMG 'Black Series' model will go into production.

The car, which represents the very pinnacle of the SL range, was first spotted by the spy photographers at Carparazzi back in October of last year, disguised, but plainly fitted with a fixed roof (more here).

Now that the SL 65 AMG Black Series is out in the open, we can tell you that a limited number of the exotic sports car will be coming to Australia, with pricing to be decided early next year.

What makes the SL 65 AMG Black Series so special is that at an 1870kg kerb mass, it's a full 250kg lighter than the standard SL 65 AMG and boasts a tweaked version of the 6.0-litre biturbo V12, developing 493kW of power and 1000Nm of torque. The torque has been electronically limited to that peak figure, but without the limiter, the engine could produce as much as 1200Nm.

Note that the 'SL 65 Black' is a coupe, not the roadster with the standard folding metal roof. In place of the metal roof, the new variant is fitted with a fixed roof formed from a carbonfibre composite material (CFRP). The roof incorporates a roll-over bar for added safety and permits a larger rear window than the standard SL. Despite the fixed roof, the SL 65 Black remains a two-seater.

CFRP is also used elsewhere throughout the car, replacing the front mudguard, front apron -- with its visible carbon front splitter -- bonnet and boot lid. AMG took care of the in-house design of the SL 65 Black and grabbed with both hands the opportunity presented by the lightweight panels to develop a unique style for the car that allowed the fitting of larger wheels and tyres, as well as providing additional cooling for the engine and the locking differential at the rear.

It is, in fact, the 14cm wider front guards, the heat-extraction vents in the bonnet and the enlarged air intakes at the front that serve to distinguish the new car from its donor.

Behind the more aggressively styled front panels sits the hand-built, 'one man, one engine' AMG V12 with its dual turbochargers -- exclusive to the SL 65 Black. Unlike the standard car, these turbos feature 12 per cent larger spiral cross-section and an optimised wastegate. Other changes include improved air intake ducting and new mufflers for the exhaust system, reducing back-pressure. AMG has also opted for a 30 per cent more efficient intercooler and an upgraded engine cooling system.

As a consequence of all these changes working in unison, the 'Black' engine develops 43kw more power than the standard car, at an engine speed of 5400rpm. The electronically limited torque peak occurs between 2200 and 4200rpm.

With this sort of output, it's no surprise the SL 65 Black will reach 100km/h from a standing start in 3.9 seconds. The car will go on to a top speed of 320km/h -- electronically limited.

Since it's capable of that sort of speed, AMG has endowed the car with a retracting rear spoiler which is also made from CFRP and deploys at a speed of 120km/h. Rising 12cm from the rear of the car, the spoiler actively reduces aerodynamic lift at the rear.

Transferring the engine's torque from the powerplant to the road is the job of the five-speed 'AMG Speedshift Plus' automatic transmission, which offers four different driving modes: "C", "S", "M1" and "M2". M2 can change gear 25 per cent faster than the "M1" mode.

A damper clutch to lock up the torque converter operates from 1st gear, ensuring optimum efficiency in all gears. The transmission also blips the throttle on downchanges to reduce load on the drivetrain. Torque is relayed to the wheels via a multi-disc limited-slip differential with the potential to lock up 40 per cent.

AMG has specified a fully adjustable suspension system for the SL 65 Black. Camber, ride height and damper rates can all be adjusted by the driver to suit the needs of track days or touring. The front track is 97mm wider than the standard car's and the track at the rear is 85mm wider for improved roadholding and the steering ratio is eight per cent more direct.

Measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear, the wheels are supplied with 263/35 R19 (front) and 325/30 R20 (rear) tyres and are braked by a system comprising cross-drilled, ventilated discs constructed from a composite material.

The rotors at the front measure 390x36mm and are equipped with six-piston callipers. At the rear, the rotor dimensions are 360x26mm and the callipers are of the four-piston type. An ESP system applies positive hydraulic pressure through the braking system in three different modes, including a Sport mode.

Inside the SL 65 AMG Black Series, driver and passenger are accommodated in Nappa leather and Alcantara with carbonfibre accents. In keeping with the vehicle's name, the interior is entirely black. Sports seats made from CFRP will not be available in Australian specification vehicles, being limited to European Union markets.

We will be seeing the new AMG instrument cluster, featuring a black speedometer which reads up to 360km/h and flanked by a white-faced tachometer with four LEDs to alert the driver when to change gear manually.

To bring the SL 65 AMG Black Series to market, AMG has subjected the car to 30,000km of testing, in places as far-flung as the Arctic circle. But tellingly, 15,000km of the testing was carried out around the Nordschleife at Nurburgring.

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