With its legend created...
With its legend created by the C and D-Type Le Mans racers of the Fifties, the car set speed and performance records when it hit the road in 1961. Capable of 150mph, the first 3.8-litre machine was guaranteed instant status as a classic, and its appeal endures to this day. Even now, top examples fetch over ÷£50,000, almost as much as a new XK.
This is the Mercedes...
This is the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series, the most powerful car ever to wear the three-pointed star.
Apparently
not convinced that the current range-topping 518bhp SL63 AMG is
hardcore enough, Mercedes asked in-house tuning arm AMG to come up with
something a bit more raucous.
The result is an SL turned to
11, with a mind-blowing 661bhp and 1,000Nm of torque! And to make sure
thereò€™s no confusing a Black Series with the ò€˜standardò€™ AMG car, the
interior and exterior are completely reworked ò€“ the new car shares only
five percent of its parts with the SL63.
As you can see, the 95
percent of unique parts are focussed entirely on enhancing performance.
The front and rear bumpers are redesigned, the former to suck plenty of
fresh air into the engine bay to cool the raging power plant down, and
massive vents behind the wider front wheel arches improve airflow. A
retractable electric rear spoiler sits at the back.
A carbon
fibre hood, magnesium alloy wheels and a partially stripped out
interior ò€“ making liberal use of carbon fibre and alcantara ò€“ combine
with the power hike to provide mind-bending acceleration. The Black
Series will hit 62mph from standstill in under four seconds!