Sometimes the tire-destroying Mercedes-Benz SLS isn’t enough… enter the Black Series.
Making its in-person debut today at the L.A. Auto Show, the wicked-looking car has the same 6.3-liter V8 as the “normal” SLS, only this time it has 622 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. That’s a jump in horsepower, but actually a loss in the twist measurement. Despite that, it’s the most powerful combustion engine in AMG’s repertoire.
Ever the kings of subtlety, AMG made sure the car’s extra muscle stands out even though you can’t actually see the increased horsepower. What you can see, on the other hand, is a big carbon fiber spoiler, which comes as an option. A smaller spoiler that raises at speeds above 75 mph is standard on the car as is its wide body kit, carbon ceramic brakes and extensive use of carbon fiber, including a dashboard made of the material.
Swapping in the lightweight weave for certain parts helps the car’s performance even further by wringing out a few unnecessary pounds — 150 to be exact. Part of that treatment meant cutting the company’s COMAND infotainment system — a key creature comfort for some.
The again, this is a hardcore track car, as its looks might suggest. Its more extreme body does more than grab attention, it helps hug the road by increasing downforce. In fact, Mercedes says the body kit actually lowers the car’s top speed, although only by a single mph.
GALLERY: Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series
