On this episode of ignition Motor Trend Technical Director Frank Markus heads to the Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France. Here he will test the most powerful iteration of the Mercedes SLS AMG
Category
đźš—
MotorTranscript
00:00 This week on Ignition, we're revisiting the realm of the super-mega-ultra car.
00:04 The subject of this week's review is not just an AMG Mercedes, not just an SLS AMG,
00:10 but the all-new SLS AMG Black Series.
00:14 AMG only hangs the Black Series name on its most extreme offerings.
00:19 Last year, the C63 Black almost won our coveted Best Driver's Car award.
00:24 But you have to wonder, is it a good idea to blacken the SLS?
00:29 I mean, 563 horsepower were enough to make the base version a handful.
00:34 So how will this newest SLS cope with 622?
00:38 We're here at Circuit Paul Ricard to find out.
00:41 [MUSIC]
00:51 [MUSIC]
01:01 AMG's blackening process develops the car holistically,
01:15 tweaking the chassis, aerodynamics, and vehicle mass.
01:18 Perhaps the most crucial upgrade is widening the track by 0.8 and 0.9 inch front and rear,
01:25 and fitting ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
01:29 If this car proves faster in a straight line, the tires will share most of the credit,
01:34 along with the claimed 150-pound diet plan,
01:37 which consisted of carbon fiber hood, diagonal underbody braces, and torque tube,
01:42 and a lithium-ion starter battery and glorious-sounding titanium exhaust system.
01:47 The resultant weight-to-power ratio is a Mercedes record-setting 5.5 pounds per horsepower.
01:53 That's the same as a McLaren 12C.
01:56 [MUSIC]
01:59 Well, it's a brand new day in Le Castellet, and it's a sunny one.
02:02 The track is warm, the tires are hot.
02:04 Today should give us a chance to take the full measure of the SLS Black Series.
02:08 [MUSIC]
02:13 All right, so we're sitting out on a hot lap of a dry track with warm tires, probably hot tires.
02:22 Let's see what this thing can do.
02:25 [MUSIC]
02:31 I do love the very quick response of this transmission,
02:34 and the little blips for the downshifts are great.
02:37 [MUSIC]
02:40 Starting out in the sport handling mode, which allows a little bit more wheel spin and so forth,
02:45 so we'll see where the car would probably have gotten away if it was turned off.
02:51 I'll be able to feel a little wiggle.
02:54 Got Sport Plus dialed up on the adaptive suspension.
02:59 Of course, it's a track.
03:01 There's no bumps or whatever, so no reason to go for a lesser setting than that.
03:09 This titanium exhaust really sounds great.
03:13 [MUSIC]
03:17 But I have to say the behavior is quite predictable.
03:22 I mean, I get the impression that with a lot of laps at this track,
03:26 I could learn exactly how much throttle it could handle and when and where.
03:32 [MUSIC]
03:35 What's the performance limit on this car?
03:39 Yes, I believe that all of the performance parameters are elevated considerably relative to the base and GT SLS.
03:49 [MUSIC]
03:51 Long live the SLS beast, I guess.
03:54 [MUSIC]
04:02 After driving the GT Black Series on a dry track, I can now confidently report that this tiger has not changed its stripes.
04:09 It'll still happily wag its tail, but not without warning and not until much higher limits.
04:13 So forget about girlfriends.
04:15 This SLS is about scaring those club racers trying to reel you in.
04:21 Think the Black Series is outrageous?
04:23 Let's take a look at a more eco-friendly way of scaring yourself silly,
04:27 SLS electric drive.
04:35 At 740 horsepower and 738 pound-feet,
04:38 this eco-green monster ranks as the most powerful production electric car on earth.
04:44 As with most electric cars, the motors drive the wheels directly through a gear reduction
04:49 that roughly equates to fifth gear in the standard SLS.
04:52 So despite all that killer torque and total attraction, the thousand pounds heavier SLS needs about 3.8 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour
05:01 on the way to a top speed of 155 miles per hour.
05:04 Let's see how all that translates to the track.
05:11 So far, this car definitely feels a little heavier.
05:16 Although it still is clearly all-wheel driven.
05:26 There's nowhere near as much rear swinging around in this car as in the...
05:35 Yeah, we can get a... you can get a tail out if you're determined.
05:49 After sampling each SLS, it's safe to say that both are capable of scaring you silly,
05:54 but one does it with a clean green conscience.
05:57 Sadly, that one is not yet scheduled for sale in the U.S.,
06:00 so we'll happily make do with the black series.
06:05 [MUSIC]
06:15 [MUSIC]
06:25 [MUSIC]
06:35 [MUSIC]
06:45 (upbeat music)