Mercedes-Benz has revealed its new SLS AMG Black Series ahead of the car's debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show later this month.
With a host of mechanical and aerodynamic improvements, the SLS AMG Black is the fifth car to bear the Black name from the skunkworks inside Merc's AMG division.
To improve on the already-excellent SLS, AMG's engineers have stripped 70kg from the car's kerb weight by adding lots of carbon-fibre and a new lithium-ion starter battery which on its own saves 8kg.
The AMG boffins have managed to screw some extra horses out of the SLS's 6.3-litre V8 -- 59 of them, to be precise -- bringing the total up to 622bhp. And in addition to this, the red-line has also been raised from 7,200rpm to 8,000rpm.
This makes the SLS AMG Black fast. Pant-wettingly fast. 0-62mph takes just 3.6 seconds and flat out the car will do 196mph.
The more perceptive amongst you may have realised that this makes the SLS Black 1mph slower at the top end than the standard SLS; however, there is a good reason for this.
The SLS Black is based heavily on the SLS GT3 racing car and, as such, is fitted with a large carbon-fibre rear wing, front and rear diffusers, a spoiler which rises when you hit 75mph, and a huge bodykit. While these improvements will undoubtedly transform the car's handling, they do increase drag, hence the lower top speed.
The SLS Black's track is wider than the standard car's by 20mm at the front axle and 24mm at the rear, and you get carbon ceramic brakes as standard.
The SLS AMG Black Series is due for launch next June and although Mercedes has yet to confirm prices, expect it to cost in the region of £300,000.
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