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Monday, August 21, 2006
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Mercedes SLK 55 AMG Black Series Review
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HP (kW): 400 (294) Top-Speed: 280 km/h Price: 107,300 Euro
Mercedes showed us the Black Series a couple of weeks ago, and we even saw it being driven by Autobild, but this is the first a review has been written. AutoZeitung, like with any other reviews, has written a great article about the SLK 55 AMG Black Series. I will try my best and translate the article for you.
Next to the AMG models, which are sold Mercedes dealership network, they (Mercedes) is creating and producing special models in the new AMG Performance Studio. The SLK 55 AMG Black Series is the first model to come out and has already been called a perfect lightweight racetrack car.
The SLK 55 AMG Black Series fenders were made from reinforced plastic and the top from carbon. Since the SLK doesn't have the folding top, the weight was further decreased by uninstalling the motor system which lowered and raised the roof. The saved weight was invested by the Engineers in improving the cars performance (e.g. installing bigger brakes). Overall, the SLK lost 45 kilogram.
The weight decrease and the performance boost from 360 to 400 HP increased the Performance to weight ratio from 4.3 to 3.7 Kilogram per HP. To achieve that, AMG optimized the air suctions, upgraded the cooling system, and reprogrammed the engine timing, along with many other upgrades. All these upgrades made the SLK go 0.4 seconds faster from 0 to 100 km/h than the basic version. According to AMG, the Black Series achieves the 200 km/h mark after only 15.5 seconds.
The Black Series SLK should not just impress on paper, but it should also perform on the racetrack. That is exactly what it is trying to do with a Spoiler (completely adjustable), Pirelli sport tires, and a strengthened suspension goes. With perfect precision maneuvers the AMG through curves. It also impressed by going around the corners with almost no tilt and with a lot of grip; understeer is also not an issue with the SLK.
Stopping when one needs to, is made possible with big front brakes, and accelerating is made easy with a seven a gear automatic engine. The system is very fast when it comes to changing gears up, but has some issues when it comes to decreasing the gears and catching up with the braking. The EPS in the AMG is the same one that is found in any other Mercedes model. Shutting the system off is not possible, but fortunately it does not hinder the driving performance one bit.
It is the most impressive SLK so far costs 107,300 Euro and is made at the AMG Performance Studio by hand. The edition is not "limited", but it will still remain an exclusive version.
Here is a slideshow of the Black Series.
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posted by Muamer Hodzic @
8/21/2006 01:21:00 AM
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