On the heels of the 2008 CLK63 AMG Black’s stellar success, Mercedes-Benz will release a new sedan in the Black series for 2009. The SL65 AMG Black is a larger, more powerful and more exclusive vehicle, and they will be even tougher to own than last year’s CLK63 AMG Black.

Starting with the standard SL65 AMG, Mercedes’ in-house AMG Performance Studio tunes the 6.0L V-12 bi-turbo engine to produce a full 670 hp — 58 more than the SL65 — while the torque figure remains the same at an electronically limited 738 lb-ft for better drivability…AMG claims that 885 lb-ft would be available if it were not governed. Larger turbochargers were developed specially for this car, and a new AMG sports exhaust with optimized airflow tubing also contributes to the power increase. And this power boost translates into a 3.9 second 0-62 mph time,  and a governed top speed of nearly 200 mph.

More muscle and less mass is the magic formula here. In addition to the performance gains, Mercedes-Benz claims that the SL65 AMG Black will weigh 551 pounds less than a standard SL65.  Many of the Body panels on the SL65 AMG Black are contructed of a light weight carbon fiber composite. The car will be equipped witha fixed carbon fiber roof with a rollbar. The new roof design not only lowers the vehicles weight and increases the structural integrity, but it also provides for a lower center of gravity.

The Mercedes AMG engineers have done extensive wind tunnel aerodynamic testing, and the SL65 AMG Black will be a wind cutting monster. A concealed carbon fiber rear spoiler raises automatically at 75 mph, and there is a new wider front apron that includes carbon splitters to direct airflow. The carbon fiber rear diffuser sits right between the outlets of the new sports exhaust system.

The brakes and suspension system have also been tuned for the Black series, with larger discs at all four wheels and six-pot calipers in the front and four-pot calipers in the rear. The all black AMG wheels are 20 inches in back and 19 inches up front, and wear Dunlop’s Sport Maxx GT tires. The new coil-spring suspension is fully adjustable for race duty, and the track has been widened by 3.8 inches in the front and 3.3 inches in the rear. Weight reduction continues in the new aluminum wheel carriers, and the spring links, camber struts, and pull/push rods at both axles are all new for the SL65 AMG Black.

The AMG Speedshift Plus five-speed automatic transmission is the same as the standard SL65 AMG. The user adjustable transmission features four modes with varying degrees of comfort and performance and an automatic rev-matching feature on downshifts. Three-mode ESP combined with a limited-slip differential with 40% locking capability help keep the power under control and the car pointed the right way.

The Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black appropriately receives all-black interior trim, with a few unique enhancements. There are new Nappa leather and Alcantara-wrapped sport seats with the AMG logoembossed on the headrests. The smaller diameter, flat-bottom steering wheel is trimmed in perforated leather. Other Black series exclusives include silver colored aluminum shift paddles, carbon fiber center console trim, a carbon fiber inlaid gearlever, carbon fiber door panels, white gauge faces with LED shift lights, and Alcantara lining on the roof, A pillars and C pillars.

Mercedes has stated that they will only produce 350 of the SL65 AMG Black series cars, with 200 expected to be sold on American soil. The price tag will likely be in the mid $300,000 range…some may feel that is a bargain for such an exclusive offering from Mercedes-Benz.

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