The current Mercedes SLS->ke2504 lineup is quickly filling up with a Coupe, a Roadster, a GT3 version, and, sometime in the near future, an E-Cell version. However, Mercedes isn't done yet. As promised yesterday the fifth model in the line-up has been officially announced today: the SLS AMG Black Series.

The new SLS Black Series has borrowed some of the styling cues seen first on the GT3 version and of course combines them with some of the usual Black Series design elements. But first Mercedes worked on reducing the car's total weight: they added lots of carbon fiber elements, a new titanium-made exhaust system, new wheels and some lightweight sports seats. As a result the new Black Series is about 154 pounds lighter than the current model.

When you add an improved engine under the hood: a 622-horsepowerV-8 engine, you will easily notice that the car's performance numbers have also improved: the 0-to-60 mph sprint time drops 0.2 seconds and top speed is now 195 mph.

Updated 07/03/2013: Mercedes revealed today prices for the 2014 SLS Black Series. Click past the jump to find put how much you'll have to pay to drive this exclusive supercar.

Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series.

2014 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 622 @ 7400
  • Torque: 468 @ 5500
  • Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

When designing their new SLS Black Series, Mercedes took their design inspiration from the GT3 version - a model that scored an impressive result in the motorsport industry: up to 37 victories in the 2012 season.

The Black Series models are usually more powerful, faster models, so Mercedes needed to improve the car's aerodynamics. For this they have added front and rear spoilers, side skirts and a rear diffuser, all in a signature Black Series design and made in carbon fiber. Also, in order to offer the car a more aggressive look, Mercedes has added tinted headlamps and black surrounds for the rear lights.

From the GT3, the new Black Series has borrowed the carbon-fiber hood with the central air outlet that increases downforce at the front axle and improves the cd value.

The car's exterior paint is combined with a high-gloss black finish in the radiator grille, the exterior mirrors and the fins on the hood.

The car sits on a new set of AMG forged wheels in a signature Black Series 10-spoke design, painted in matte black with a high-gloss finish. The wheels are combined with AMG ceramic high-performance two-piece brake system.

The last piece of the exterior design is a new AMG titanium sports exhaust system with two sets of twin chrome tailpipes with a square cross-section.

AMG Aerodynamics package includes:

-*Adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing

-*Aluminum elements on a special insert on the trunk lid that provide -*Greater downforce on the rear axle

-*Additional carbon-fiber flics on the front skirt

-*AMG Solar Beam exterior paint

-*Matte finish designo magno alanite grey.

Interior

The new SLS AMG Black Series will be offered with a choice of two interior colors: black designo leather with black Alcantara or black designo leather with black/red Alcantara. Both colors are combined with red insertions on the door center panels, the applications on the center console and above the glove box.

Because Mercedes has focused on reducing the car's total weight they have added an AMG Performance steering wheel with flattened rim at the bottom wrapped entirely in Alcantara and a a red 12 o'clock marking on the top section. The same material in combination with designo leather has been used for the bottom section of the dashboard, on the door center panels and on the AMG sports seats.

And, as this is a car about speed, not necessarily about comfort, Mercedes is offering their clients the possibility to delete the COMAND multimedia system - an option that will reduce the car's total weight by another 13 pounds.

The car is offered with a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end surround sound system that includes a 1,000-watt amplifier and 11 speakers in conjunction with precise distribution of the music signals by the sound processor according to the selected seat positions – driver, co-driver or central.

New Standard Features:

-Modified engine components for more power, increased rev limit of 8,000 rpm

-Track increased 0.8 inches (front) / 0.9 inches (rear)

-AMG 10-spoke forged alloy wheels in matte black, 10 x 19 (front)/12 x 20 (rear)

-CFRP hood, torque tube, diagonal underbody braces

-Revised AMG speed-sensitive power steering

-AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension

-AMG high-performance two-piece ceramic brakes

-Matte black forged wheels

-Electronically-controlled AMG rear axle differential lock

-Modified AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission

-New engine brace with gas-filled strut

-Titanium exhaust system

New Optional Equipment:

-AMG carbon-fiber exterior mirror

-AMG carbon-fiber engine cover

-AMG Interior Carbon Fiber Package

-AMG Aerodynamics Package

-AMG forged matte black wheels with polished rims

-Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end surround sound system

-COMAND multimedia system delete

Engine

Under the hood, you will find an improved version of the current AMG 6.3-liter V-8 engine. For the Black Series model, the V-8 engine has received modified oil bores in the crankshaft, new crankshaft bearings, a new oil pump and high-strength screwed connections for the connecting rods. With all of these mechanical updates, AMG was able to tune the 6.3-liter engine to a wild 622 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and a peak torque of 468 pound-feet at 5,500 rpm.

With the extra power and the lowered weight, the new SLS Black Series will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and up to a top speed of 196 mph.

The engine is mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission installed ten millimeters lower in order to achieve a lower center of gravity. The new transmission features four driving modes: C, S, S+ and M.

Drivetrain Specifications:

Displacement

6208 cc

Bore x stroke

102.2 x 94.6 mm

Compression ratio

11.3 : 1

Output

622 hp at 7,400 rpm

Max. torque

468 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm

Maximum engine speed

8000 rpm

Engine weight (dry)

452 pounds

Acceleration 0-60 mph

3.5 s

Top speed

196 mph


Suspension and Brakes

The new SLS AMG Black Series has received new chassis and suspensions. The car keeps the basic layout with double wishbones all-round in aluminum, but it adopts it for a much enhanced race track performance.

The new developments in detail:

-AMG RIDE CONTROL performance suspension with tauter basic tuning and electronically controlled two-stage damping (Sport, Sport +)

-Coil-over spring retainers to enable adjustment of wheel loads for personal race track set-ups

-Elastokinematics 50/42% more rigid (front/rear axle)

-Track width increased by 20/24 mm (0.79/0.94 inches) (front/rear axle)

-New wheel carriers on front axle and new front stabilizer tuning

-AMG 10-spoke light-alloy wheels

-Newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 sports tires, 275/35R19 (front) and 325/30R20 (rear)

-AMG speed-sensitive steering with newly defined power steering characteristic

Prices

The 2014 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series will be priced at $275,000 (plus $1,800 for destination and delivery). The model is now available at all U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealers. We're certain more pricing details on various options and packages will come down the line and we will update you as Mercedes releases them.

competition

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish

With all the updates received by the Black Series version, it will leave far behind the usual SLS competition. For example, the Vanquish is now considerable less powerful and slower than the SLS Black Series. It is powered by a V-12 engine will produce significantly less power to the tune of 565 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and a peak torque of 457 pound-feet at 5,500 rpm. As a result, the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 186 mph.

McLaren MP4-12C

A vehicle that is better tuned to do battle with the SLS AMG Black Series is the McLaren MP4-12C. This British supercar is powered by a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that delivers a total of 616 horsepower and comes mated to a 7-Speed SSG transmission.

The MP4-12C will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 207 mph.

Conclusion

The SLS AMG Black Series is a bad supercar by our standards, but it is far from flawless. First of all, there is a nice price hike between it and the base SLS AMG coupe with only relatively minor updates. Secondly, it's just not as sexy as some of its competition. We guess the ultimate value is in the purchaser's eyes with this one.