AMG lined up three cars from its Performance Studio at the US, West Coast race track Laguna Seca. Pick of the bunch must be the closed-roof coupé SL, packing a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 and capable of a top speed electronically limited to 320km/h.

The SL 65 AMG Black Series has a totally new body design made of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), with extra scoops, wings and ducts as befits its ultra-high-performance role. The tuned engine produces 670bhp and generates 1000Nm of torque – all transmitted to the special 19” - or 20” - Dunlop sports tyres via the dual-clutch, Speedshift Plus, five-speed automatic gearbox.

The chassis is new, too, featuring adjustable coil-over suspension and more direct steering. The car is equipped with a roll-over bar, a limited-slip differential and 3-level ESP®.

Using technology straight from the F1 pace cars, the two-seater should be devastatingly fast. Mercedes AMG quotes a 0 – 100km/h of just 3.8sec and limits the top speed to 320km/h – that’s a whisker under 199mph.



ML 63 AMG ‘10th Anniversary’

In addition to the fire-breathing coupé, AMG also revealed two very special versions of its ML63 4x4s. The ML63 AMG ‘10th Anniversary’ has the ‘regular’ 510bhp 6208cc but has been given a stronger face with the addition of a new, power-domed bonnet, a chunkier radiator grille and Himalaya grey plastic panels underneath the front and rear. The 21” high-sheen light alloy wheels are also finished in Himalaya-colour.



Inside the car, the exclusive ‘10th Anniversary’ edition has two-tone nappa lather in either black/Alpaca grey or black/light brown.



ML 63 AMG ‘Performance Studio’

The other limited-edition ML63 has enhancements purely in paint and interior trim. Metallic Peridot brown paintwork glistens outside, while the inside is trimmed in full, porcelain-coloured, diamond-stitched nappa leather with black piping. The headlining is in charcoal Alcantara and all trim normally in wood is now high-gloss piano black.



Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Mercedes-Benz