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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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02:31 I do love the very quick response of this transmission,
02:34 and the little blips for the downshifts are great.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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03:51 Long live the SLS beast, I guess.
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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.
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06:45 (upbeat music)
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