Mercedes' 'ordinary' SLS AMG. Image: Mercedes-Benz
I can appreciate Mercedes-Benz automobiles for what they are, but I have to say that I don’t really aspire to own one. Yes, they’re safe, yes, they’re stylish, but most, in my experience, are clinical and without emotion. Driving a fast car that doesn’t feel fast isn’t my idea of a good time, and luxury isn’t high on my list of priorities.
The exception to this rule is Mercedes-Benz’s Black Series, for which I have lusted after every single model. The formula for building a Black Series car is fairly simple: take an AMG-tuned Mercedes coupe, make it lighter, add sport seats and aerodynamic enhancements, then stuff in as much horsepower as you can. Black series cars are usually the most powerful models in the Mercedes lineup, and as you may guess, they’re built in a limited production run and priced accordingly.
Autoevolution tells us that Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the SLS AMG will get the Black Series treatment. Anything else is speculation at this point, but word is the SLS AMG’s 6.2-liter V-8 will get a boost in output from 563 horsepower to 610 horsepower. Torque is said to increase from 480 ft-lb to 499 ft-lb, and we’re guessing the car will shed some of its 3,600 pound curb weight to earn the Black Series designation.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
The SLS AMG Black will probably make it to this side of the pond, but only in limited quantities. If you’re lucky enough to have a bank balance in the seven-digit range, now is the time to visit your Mercedes dealer and put a deposit down. Like all of the Black Series cars, supply stops just short of demand.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
