2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series After calling the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series the best AMG of all time, we have high expectations for the new 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series. Debuting at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the latest -- and possibly the wildest -- Black Series car expands the SLS AMG supercar lineup again, joining the SLS AMG GT coupe and roadster, and upcoming Electric Drive coupe variant. The 2014 SLS AMG Black Series is the fifth Black Series model to come from Mercedes-AMG, and will go on sale in the U.S. next summer. With suspension and engine upgrades complemented by lighter weight materials, the 2014 SLS AMG Black Series may be the SLS AMG variant of choice for pure automotive enthusiasts who must have a Benz. Curb weight is down to 3417 pounds, a good 154 pounds below the SLS AMG. While that would probably be enough to notice dynamic improvements on a track like the Nuerburgring, Mercedes bumped power levels beyond the 600-hp threshold to further boost the Black Series' performance.
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
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| 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series |
2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
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| 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series |
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| 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series |
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2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
The car's naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 now makes 622 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque, up from the 583-hp SLS AMG GT, which actually produces 11 lb-ft of torque more than the Black Series model. The extra power comes courtesy of a raised redline from 7200 to 8000 rpm as well as other changes including a revised valvetrain, intake air ducting modifications, and a tweaked ECU. When the SLS AMG Black Series hits the track -- and we do hope owners will take these cars to the track -- they may benefit from Mercedes-AMG's efforts to optimize the car for track conditions, with upgraded water and oil cooling systems for the engine and transmission plus a revised crank assembly that's ready for whatever owners can throw at the car. Those lucky enough to have driven any SLS AMG model know that the car's engine sound is one of its key strengths. Now, Mercedes says the AMG sport exhaust system is now made with titanium, which has lead to a 28.7-pound weight savings over a steel-based alternative. Not surprisingly, other weight savings came from carbon-fiber reinforced plastic parts like the hood, the diagonal braces on the underbody, and the torque tube between the engine and transmission. To shave another 17.6 pounds, Mercedes replaced a conventional starter battery with a lithium-ion unit.
Acceleration from 0-60 mph is said to take 3.5 seconds and, considering we've clocked a regular SLS AMG coupe completing the same sprint in 3.6 seconds, we wouldn't be surprised to see the SLS AMG Black Series set a time in the low-3-second range. The top speed is 196 mph, meaning we'll have to wait for another special-edition Benz to potentially crack the 200-mph barrier for ultimate bragging rights. But the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is about much more than straight-line speed. As we discovered in the 2012 Best Driver's Car competition, the second-place-finishing Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series is a great-driving car. With the SLS AMG Black Series, Mercedes-AMG has installed the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission 0.4 inches lower to drop the car's center of gravity. As we heard with the SLS AMG GT, Mercedes says response and shift times have been improved. There are four drive modes including C, S, S+, and M. Thanks to that titanium exhaust system (two sets of twin chrome tailpipes with a square cross-section), Mercedes says the throttle blips when shifting gears are more noticeable than before.
To assure that the new Black Series Benz is a blast on the track, the car's track width has increased by 0.8/0.9 inches front/rear, while a coilover AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension that has two different suspension modes. Forged 10-spoke wheels -- 10x19 inches in front and 12x20 inches in the rear -- may look great against the Black-Series-exclusive AMG Solar Beam paint of the car pictured, but they are also good for another 8.8-pounds of weight savings. The matte-black wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires -- 275/35 R19 in front and 325/30 R20 in the rear. More weight reduction comes from massive ceramic two-piece brake rotors, 15.8 inches in front and 14.2 inches in the rear. By this point, you've seen the SLS AMG Black Series' difficult-to-ignore styling. Inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 race car, the Black Series model is a love-it-or-hate-it affair, with plenty of carbon fiber accents, a huge wing out back, and even an air outlet on the hood. Take another look and you may notice the black trim on the headlights and taillights, which increase the car's mean look and match the wheels. Six colors including a matte gray are available in addition to the bright car pictured here. If you're going to get a supercar with such wild styling, though, why get anything but something obnoxious like the AMG Solar Beam color? Inside, the SLS AMG Black Series has all the expected upgrades, including a choice of black leather with black Alcantara or black and red Alcantara. Go for the latter and you're treated to additional red interior accents. The flat-bottomed steering wheel has a red marking at the top, and only Black Series models will get what the automaker calls a "3D seam" -- a strip of Alcantara -- that stretches across the top of the dash.
For maximum weight savings, we probably wouldn't look to an SLS AMG in the first place, but Mercedes will remove the COMAND infotainment system at the owner's request to remove another 13 pounds. On the other side of that picture, an optional Bang & Olufsen 11-speaker sound system produces 1000 watts. Plenty of carbon fiber accents and the red piping on the floormats remind you this is no ordinary Benz. We see potential in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, though we're wondering if the low-volume model may be squeezed by the presence of the capable C63 AMG Black Series and SLS AMG GT from below and the 740-hp SLS AMG Electric Drive from above. Regardless, the new Black Series model should sustain interest in the SLS AMG lineup for a while, and no matter how good that C63 AMG Black Series is, only the SLS AMG has gullwing doors.
Acceleration from 0-60 mph is said to take 3.5 seconds and, considering we've clocked a regular SLS AMG coupe completing the same sprint in 3.6 seconds, we wouldn't be surprised to see the SLS AMG Black Series set a time in the low-3-second range. The top speed is 196 mph, meaning we'll have to wait for another special-edition Benz to potentially crack the 200-mph barrier for ultimate bragging rights. But the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is about much more than straight-line speed. As we discovered in the 2012 Best Driver's Car competition, the second-place-finishing Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series is a great-driving car. With the SLS AMG Black Series, Mercedes-AMG has installed the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission 0.4 inches lower to drop the car's center of gravity. As we heard with the SLS AMG GT, Mercedes says response and shift times have been improved. There are four drive modes including C, S, S+, and M. Thanks to that titanium exhaust system (two sets of twin chrome tailpipes with a square cross-section), Mercedes says the throttle blips when shifting gears are more noticeable than before.
To assure that the new Black Series Benz is a blast on the track, the car's track width has increased by 0.8/0.9 inches front/rear, while a coilover AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension that has two different suspension modes. Forged 10-spoke wheels -- 10x19 inches in front and 12x20 inches in the rear -- may look great against the Black-Series-exclusive AMG Solar Beam paint of the car pictured, but they are also good for another 8.8-pounds of weight savings. The matte-black wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires -- 275/35 R19 in front and 325/30 R20 in the rear. More weight reduction comes from massive ceramic two-piece brake rotors, 15.8 inches in front and 14.2 inches in the rear. By this point, you've seen the SLS AMG Black Series' difficult-to-ignore styling. Inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 race car, the Black Series model is a love-it-or-hate-it affair, with plenty of carbon fiber accents, a huge wing out back, and even an air outlet on the hood. Take another look and you may notice the black trim on the headlights and taillights, which increase the car's mean look and match the wheels. Six colors including a matte gray are available in addition to the bright car pictured here. If you're going to get a supercar with such wild styling, though, why get anything but something obnoxious like the AMG Solar Beam color? Inside, the SLS AMG Black Series has all the expected upgrades, including a choice of black leather with black Alcantara or black and red Alcantara. Go for the latter and you're treated to additional red interior accents. The flat-bottomed steering wheel has a red marking at the top, and only Black Series models will get what the automaker calls a "3D seam" -- a strip of Alcantara -- that stretches across the top of the dash.
For maximum weight savings, we probably wouldn't look to an SLS AMG in the first place, but Mercedes will remove the COMAND infotainment system at the owner's request to remove another 13 pounds. On the other side of that picture, an optional Bang & Olufsen 11-speaker sound system produces 1000 watts. Plenty of carbon fiber accents and the red piping on the floormats remind you this is no ordinary Benz. We see potential in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, though we're wondering if the low-volume model may be squeezed by the presence of the capable C63 AMG Black Series and SLS AMG GT from below and the 740-hp SLS AMG Electric Drive from above. Regardless, the new Black Series model should sustain interest in the SLS AMG lineup for a while, and no matter how good that C63 AMG Black Series is, only the SLS AMG has gullwing doors.