One to Buy: 125km Mauritius Blue 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (SOLD)
Following the successful rollout of a GT3 racing SLS which went on to win the 2012 FIA GT World and European Driver and Manufacturer titles as well as that year’s ADAC GT Masters, Mercedes launched a track-inspired limited edition of the Gullwing-doored C197 Coupe at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November 2012.
The SLS AMG Black Series was the fifth iteration of Mercedes’ Black Series theme and featured a comprehensive array of upgrades aimed at making this the most driver-focused SLS yet. The chassis, suspension, engine, transmission, body and interior all came in for significant attention while the normally optional carbon ceramic brake system and forged alloy wheels from the base SLS were fitted as standard.
Lighter, sharper, more powerful and much faster than the model from which it spawned, the SLS Black Series went down as the ultimate road-going expression of Mercedes’ C197 line.
Officially, Mercedes only offered the SLS Black Series in a choice of seven exterior and two interior colour schemes. However, a few VIP customers were able to order their cars with out-of-range combinations, an example of which is set to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Bonmont sale in Switzerland on September 20th.
Chassis ‘010656’ was ordered by its first owner in the handsome colour scheme of Mauritius Blue with a matching full leather interior as opposed to the normal leather / alcantara configuration. Optional extras specified included the popular Aerodynamics Package, exposed carbonfibre exterior mirrors, the exposed carbonfibre engine cover, exposed carbonfibre interior pack and Bang & Olufsen BeoSound infotainment system.
Although built to Gulf specification, the one owner 2014 registered car, which has covered just 125km from new, has resided in Europe since completion in December 2013.
Reprinted below is Bonhams’ description:
Chassis no. WDDRJ7HA9EA010656
Built to Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) specification
One owner
125 kilometres from new
'As new' condition
Registered in Switzerland
"For anyone wishing to give their Mercedes that extra personal touch, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has just the answers. The Daimler-Chrysler subsidiary offers the combined experience of Mercedes-Benz and AMG in the field of high-quality enhancements for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and puts the emphasis firmly on individuality when creating the customer's dream Mercedes." - Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
AMG, which is now the official performance division of Mercedes-Benz, has a long history of producing high-performance derivatives of Mercedes' standard production vehicles, and these improved versions enjoy an enthusiastic following world-wide, with prominent figures of the motorsports, entertainment, sport, and business communities being counted among aficionados.
With the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in 2010, the Affalterbach-based firm took a significant step forward. First seen at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and acknowledged as a tribute to the legendary 300 SL 'Gullwing' coupé of the 1950s – arguably the world's first supercar – the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was notable as the first car to be designed and built entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG.
A collectors' item from the day it was announced, the newcomer featured 'Gullwing' doors like its illustrious predecessor and succeeded the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at the top of the German manufacturer's range. Styled by Mercedes-Benz's Mark Fetherston, the SLS AMG received numerous prestigious design awards, and is the only automobile ever to have won the (gold) Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany. An open roadster version was introduced for 2011.
Boasting a chassis/body of mainly aluminium construction, the SLS (Sport Licht Super) was powered by a 6.2-litre V12 engine producing 563bhp initially - the most powerful normally aspirated production car engine of its day - while the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission was similarly state-of-the-art. A rear wing, extendable at high speeds, kept the SLS stable at its near-200mph maximum, while its low weight (3,573lbs or 1,624kg) helped the car lap the Mercedes-Benz test track quicker than its SLR McLaren predecessor.
Not surprisingly, given its pedigree, the SLS AMG proved very popular with racing drivers, Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton among them, while the list of celebrity owners includes Eddie Murphy, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Pacino, Roger Federer, Sylvester Stallone, and Tom Hanks.
Several limited-edition versions were introduced, including a GT3 racer, leading up to the SLS AMG GT Final Edition of 2014. Before then Mercedes had launched the Black Series, which was premiered at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and entered production the following year.
A high-performance variant, the Black Series had been inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 racer. Notable improvements over the SLS AMG included an extensively revised and more powerful engine producing 622bhp, and a reduction in weight of 70kg (154lb) courtesy of, among other things, more body panels in carbon fibre and a titanium exhaust system.
The result of these changes was a reduction in the 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time to 3.2 seconds.
In addition, the AMG SpeedShift DCT seven-speed transmission's 'Sport Plus' and 'Manual' modes had faster shifting than the standard model, while there were countless other upgrades made to the suspension, steering, wheels, brakes, and aerodynamics, the latter including an (optional) GT3-type fixed rear wing. Externally, the Black Series featured flared wheelarches and enhanced aerodynamic aids among numerous other subtle styling changes.
Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers has said that there are no plans for a successor to the SLS AMG, so for the time being this extraordinary car remains the ultimate expression of the noble 'Gullwing' tradition.
Finished in Mauritius Blue with matching interior, this spectacular Black Series was built to Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) specification in December 2013 and delivered new to the present owner. Its mouth-watering specification includes the following:
AMG ceramic brakes
AMG sports bucket seats
AMG performance steering wheel in leather/Alcantara
AMG interior carbon package
AMG Speedshift seven-speed DCT transmission
AMG ride control adjustable sports suspension
AMG carbon fibre engine cover
AMG carbon fibre exterior mirrors
Electrically folding exterior mirrors
Increased power version
Aerodynamic package
Reversing camera
Garage door opener
Auto dimming interior and exterior mirrors
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Anti-theft
Automatic air conditioning
Command apps with DVD changer
Headlamp cleaning system
Bang & Olufsen Beo Sound
Interior motion sensor
Bi-xenon headlamps
Presented in effectively 'as new' condition, having covered a mere 125 kilometres from new, this collectible modern Mercedes-Benz comes complete with its spare wheel and tools, and is registered in Switzerland.
