The 2014 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series

 

Mercedes's Supercar Made Even Better

 

  

 

     Have you ever bought a Mercedes SLS AMG and thought it didn't perform well enough on track days or video games like the Forza Motorsport series? I've driven the original SLS on Forza Motorsport 4 and while it's fast it doesn't seem to turn very well in my mind. This was also shown when Jeremy Clarkson of British Top Gear tried to beat James May and Richard Hammond in a race only to fail miserably due to the slightly less than impressive cornering abilities of his car. However in 2014 my prayers for a better SLS, as well as Jeremy's, were answered when AMG's Black Series crew built the SLS AMG Black Series. Just by looking at it you can tell it was made to be a better track car and it is. And they fixed the cornering issue considerably as shown when Jeremy drove the car through sharp corners in Italy. But enough about British Top Gear's host. You've come once again to hear some American bloke talk about a supercar.

     The SLS AMG Black Series is a front-engine rear-wheel drive supercar equipped with a tweaked version of the standard SLS's 6.3 liter V-8 that delivers 622 hp @ 7,400 RPM. Torque @ RPM is 468 @ 5,500 RPM. Top speed has been increased to 196 mph. Naught to sixty takes 3.5 seconds. That's 0.2 seconds faster than the original. The engine is coupled to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission.

     The SLS AMG Black Series uses design inspiration from the SLS GT3. Front and rear spoilers were added to the Black Series as well as side skirts and a rear diffuser that is adjustable. Other features include a body made from carbon fiber, wheels made by AMG themselves that carry their 10-spoke design, and an AMG ceramic high-performance two-piece brake system. The car also uses a new AMG titanium sports exhaust system that has two sets of chrome tailpipes with a square cross-section. Last but not least is are aluminum elements placed on a special insert on the trunk lid that provide better downforce on the rear axle.

    The SLS AMG Black Series uses double wishbones all-round in aluminum for increased track performance. Other features to aid driving include coil-over spring retainers, AMG RIDE CONTROL performance suspension with tauter basic tuning, sport and sport + modes, Elastokinematics that are 50/42% more rigid, track width that is increased to 20/24 mm, new wheel carries on the front axle as well as new front stabilizer tuning, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and AMG speed-sensitive that is said to have newly defined power steering characteristics.   

    The cost of a SLS AMG Black Series is $275,000 plus a $1,800 destination and delivery charge. However if you wanted to buy one of these cars you'd have to find a man or woman who owns one and wants to sell it since this car is no longer produced. Let's hope people who want one can find a good dealer because this seems to be a good car.