Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series (2008) CAR review and video

By Ben Barry

First Drives

06 November 2008 16:00

This is the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL65 Black Series, the star of CAR Magazine’s December 2008 cover. CAR was invited to an exclusive test drive of this outlandish machine on road and track at Mas du Clos, France. Just 350 SL Blacks will be produced, with only nine coming to the UK.
We’ll deal with the road test here, but you’ll read what it’s like to drive flat-out on track – as well as an exclusive interview with AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg and his amazing plans for AMG diesels, hybrids and the new Gullwing supercar – in the magazine.

How much is the Mercedes-Benz AMG SL65 Black Series?

You’d better take a seat. Prices aren’t yet confirmed, but UK customers might pay as much as £250k.
But remember, even the standard SL65 comes in at £154k, and the Black Series is a massive, low-volume re-engineering job. The folding hard-top has been ditched in favour of a carbon panel that’s been bonded in place, upping rigidity and lopping 250kg off the kerbweight which falls from 2120kg to 1870kg. Of the other panels, it’s pretty much only the doors that are carried over from the standard car. The other parts – the front wings, the front bumper, the aggressively scooped bonnet, the rear arches, the bootlid – are all ultra-strong, ultra-light and ultra-expensive carbonfibre composites. Even the rear screen and rear side windows are new, replaced to improve aerodynamics and create a more coupe-like profile.

It’s not, erm, black...

The Black Series moniker came out of a dinner that AMG held for key customers prior to the 2006 Chicago motor show. These people usually had a number of AMG products in the garage, but turned to other manufacturers for hardcore thrills. Black Series products meant they would no longer need to. The name, says AMG, suggests the pinnacle of the range, much like American Express’s most exclusive credit card and other premium products.
So, you can order Obsidian Black, but you’ll also choose from Iridium Silver, Paladium Silver, Fire Opal Red, Diamond White and Tenorit Grey.
Click 'Next' below to read more of our Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series first drive