Mercedes Black Series Models You Need to Know
Image Above By Motohide Miwa - SL65 Black Series, CC BY 2.0, Source
The Black Series is a model where Mercedes can give their best to their AMG models. More power to the engine, a more aggressive appearance with an aerodynamic kit, and a lighter car are the recipes. The main goal is to create the best driving experience ever on the racetrack. It is essentially a road-legal version of a race car. Let's explore these amazing Black Series models.
1. Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Coupé Black Series
This was the first and smallest car to be fitted with the Black Series badge. Only 120 units were made between July 2006 till April 2007 (Source: Top Gear). Imagine a Mercedes the size of a Mazda MX-5 (Miata) equipped with a 5.5-litre V8 engine (Source: Top Gear). The engine puts out 395 hp at 5750 rpm and 520 Nm (384 lb. ft.) of torque at 3750 rpm (Source: Acceleration Times, 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
Meanwhile, the regular SLK 55 has 355 hp at 5750 rpm and 510 Nm (376 lb. ft.) of torque at 4000 rpm.
The power is sent through the rear wheels via a seven-speed gearbox with a couple of aluminium paddle shifters (Source: Top Gear). This car can sprint from 0-60 mph in just 4.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds). It is 0.1 seconds faster for both measurements of sprints than the regular SLK 55. While the SLK 55 has a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), the Black Series has it at 174 mph (280 km/h).
A modified air intake, an AMG sports air filter and an AMG sports exhaust system contribute to the power increase. For the suspension, the Black Series is adjustable with adjustable dampers. The car also has a strut bar on top of the engine and 14-inch front brakes. Customers can choose to have a limited-slip differential for their vehicles.
The front spoiler is made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). Besides, a different front bumper with more oversized air intakes for the front and each side. It will not be a Black Series model without mentioning its fender flares. Regarding the interior, the car has two AMG bucket seats with silver AMG logos on them. On top of that, the door panels are made from carbon fibre.
2. Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Coupé Black Series
By Josh Hallett from Winter Haven, FL, USA - CLK 63 Black - AMG Performance Event - Mercedes Benz of Orlando, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
With their insane idea from the creation of the SLK 55 Black Series, they produced this car in April 2007. Only 700 units were made until March 2008. This car is based on the equivalent Formula 1 safety car in 2006 and 2007. As the '63' in the model name suggests, this car has an upgraded version of a 6.2-litre V8 engine. The engine received a magnesium dual-intake manifold with two internal butterfly valves.
Plus, a more free-flow exhaust system and an upgraded ECU. The outcome is 500 hp and 630 Nm (465 lb. ft.) of torque sent to the rear wheels (Source: Acceleration Times, 2007 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs). It is 25 hp more with the same torque as the regular CLK 63 (Source: Acceleration Times, 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
By Paul Broeker - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Source
This car can do 0-60 mph in 4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds). 186 mph (300 km/h) is this car's top speed.
In comparison, the normal CLK 63 does a 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds). It has a slower top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). The improvement of the performance figures helps to catch up with Micheal Schumacher on the racetrack back then.
Other upgrades with the CLK 63 Black Series are two lower brace struts and 19-inch multi-spoke aluminium wheels. Inside the wheels are 14.1-inch brakes at the front and 13-inch at the rear. The car also has wide axles that contribute to its visible fender flares. It has wider front and rear spoilers, upgraded steering, adjustable suspension and camber with toe-in tuning.
Inside, the car serves two AMG bucket seats with AMG logos on them and door trims made from carbon fibre. What a car.
3. Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Coupé Black Series
The most hardcore version of the SL class, the SL 65 Black Series was born in September 2008 (Source: Top Gear). The production ends in August 2009 with a total production number of 350 units (Source: Top Gear). It produces 661 hp and an incredible 1000 Nm (738 lb. ft.) of torque from a 6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine (Source: Acceleration Times, 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
This car has 57 hp more than the standard SL 65 (Source: Acceleration Times, 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG 0-60, quarter mile, specs). The Black Series sprints from 0-60 mph in just 3.6 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds). Its top speed is 199 mph (320 km/h) (Source: Acceleration Times, 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
Meanwhile, the regular SL 65 can do 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds). However, it has a higher top speed of 210 mph (338 km/h).
The power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed gearbox. The upgrades with this engine are improved blowers with a spiral cross-section that is 12% bigger in size. Besides, more aggressive front air intake and distinctive AMG exhausts are also available with this car. The roof and spoiler are made from CFRP.
Interestingly, this car only comes as a coupé rather than a convertible for other SL of the same era. The front bonnet lid, the fenders and the rear diffuser are made from carbon fibre as well. An adjustable spoiler is also standard with this car.
The wheels are 19 inches in size with a twin-spoke design. The front brakes have a size of 15-inch and 14-inch at the rear. Like the previous Black Series models, this car also has adjustable suspension all-round. On top of that, a limited-slip differential is standard on this beast. Its flare fenders are the reason why the beast is suitable to call for this car.
On the inside, the car comes with more aggressive bucket seats and a white rev counter (Source: Top Gear). Not to forget a carbon fibre centre console (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, The Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series Was a $300,000 Monster). The steering also claimed to be different from other SL (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, The Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series Was a $300,000 Monster).
By Motohide Miwa from USA - SL65 Black Series, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
4. Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series
By Christian Flores from Carlsbad / Encinitas, United States of America - Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
Now we come to another hardcore model which is a C-class model. 800 units of this car were produced in 2011 and 100 of those were sold in North America (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, The Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Is the $125,000 Ultimate C-Class).
Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine. It produces 510 hp at 6800 rpm and 620 Nm (457 lb. ft.) of torque at 5200 rpm (Source: Acceleration Times, 2011 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series Aerodynamic Pack 0-60, quarter mile, specs). It has 59 hp and 20 Nm (14 lb. ft.) of torque more than a regular C63 (2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
The C63 Black Series has a 0-60 mph time in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds). Plus, a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).
This car is 0.5 seconds faster for 0-60 mph and 0-100 km/h sprint than the regular C63. Furthermore, the regular C63 has a slower top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
The power is sent to the rear wheels only via a seven-speed gearbox. The boost in performance is made by improving the forged pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and the ECU of the engine.
By Christian Flores from Carlsbad / Encinitas, United States of America - Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
The car comes standard with a sunroof for the North American market as its regular C-class too. However, other markets can have the car without the sunroof. Flare fenders are also very visible on this car compared to regular C63. This car has two vents on the bonnet lid which is not available in normal C63. But, the 507 edition has it.
The side mirrors are made from carbon fibre. Mentioning the carbon fibre, the option that the customer can add back then was the Aerodynamic Package. The package includes a carbon fibre front spoiler and carbon fibre front canards. Finally, the package is also equipped with carbon fibre side skirts and a carbon fibre rear spoiler. The spoiler is manually adjustable by the way.
At the rear, the car has a more aggressive diffuser with chrome-coloured quad-exhaust, two on each side. The C63 Black Series uses 19-inch multi-spoke wheels.
The car also has improved suspension and bigger brakes. The car has a theme of black with red colours with some Alcantara touches throughout the interior. It has sportier bucket seats with no rear seats. However, customers can choose to have a rear seat.
5. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Black Series
By tofuprod - LA Auto Show 2012, Uploaded by MB-one, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
The next Black Series model is the ultimate Mercedes model launched in 2012 (Source: Mercedes-AMG). Mercedes only built 150 units of this car on the planet. This gullwing door supercar is powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine too. The output is 622 hp at 7400 rpm and 635 Nm (468 lb. ft.) of torque at 5500 rpm (Source: Acceleration Times, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
Although this is the ultimate Mercedes model at that time, it is amazingly less powerful than SL 65 Black Series. Nevertheless, this car has 59 hp more but 15 Nm (11 lb. ft.) less torque than the normal SLS AMG (Source: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
This car can be driven to 196 mph (315 km/h) (Source: Acceleration Times, 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs) compared to SLS AMG's 201 mph (323 km/h) (Source: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
The engine has a larger intake manifold, higher lift camshaft, lighter bearings and stiffer conrods than the regular SLS. This car has 1550 kg (3417 lb.) of weight which is 70 kg (154 lb.) lighter than the regular SLS. The reduction resulted from the use of titanium exhaust instead of steel which reduces 13 kg (29 lb.) of weight. Carbon fibre for the front spoiler, bonnet, rear diffuser and fixed rear spoiler helps to reduce weight too.
A mixture of leather and Alcantara is visible on the interior with carbon fibre on the centre console. Not only that, the metre cluster is surrounded by beautiful aluminium housing.
By Sarah Larson from Ann Arbor, MI, USA - 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, CC BY 2.0, Source
6. Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series
This is the most recent and powerful Black Series model ever. 720 hp and 800 Nm (590 lb. ft.) of torque from a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine (Source: Acceleration Times, 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
This car has a whopping 143 hp and 100 Nm (74 lb. ft.) more than the GT R Pro (Acceleration Times, 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro 0-60, quarter mile, specs)! This Black Series sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds) (Source: Acceleration Times, 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
It is 0.4 and 0.5 seconds faster for 0-60 mph and 0-100 km/h run respectively than the Pro (Source: Acceleration Times, 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro 0-60, quarter mile, specs). This car can reach a top speed of 202 mph (325 km/h) (Source: Acceleration Times, 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
Meanwhile, the GT R Pro can do it at 198 mph (319 km/h) (Source: Acceleration Times, 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT R Pro 0-60, quarter mile, specs).
Therefore, there must be some upgrades to the engine. For example, it has a flat plane crank, a higher engine redline and upgraded turbos. Also, this car is lighter by 36 kg (79 lb.) than the GT R Pro.
By Charles from Port Chester, New York - Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series Coupé (C190, 2022), CC BY 2.0, Source
As usual, the use of carbon fibre is also a theme in this car. The manually adjustable front spoiler and the bonnet with some nostrils are examples. Next are the front fenders with six holes on each side and its boot lid. It wouldn't be complete without mentioning its two-level carbon fibre rear spoiler. The massive spoiler claimed to create 408 kg (899 lb.) of downforce at the top speed.
Its huge rear diffuser that houses the quad exhaust is also in carbon fibre. Plus with its rocker panels too. The car also comes standard with carbon ceramic brakes. For the interior, it is mostly covered with Alcantara and carbon fibre trims as expected.
An interesting touch with the interior is the door pull which is a strap rather than a conventional door pull. And of course, this car comes with a couple of aggressive bucket seats.
Those are six iconic Black Series lineups made by Mercedes. Certainly, another list of desirable machines loved by enthusiasts. Which Black Series attracts you the most? Do you think the Black Series models are more awesome than the BMW CSL products? Share it in the comments.
