First Drives

Mercedes SLK55 AMG Black Series CAR review

First drive

31 July 2006 05:33

Sounds ominous, what's it all about?

AMG's gone hardcore to take on BMW’s 'CSL' and Audi's 'RS' monster saloons. From the new cutting edge Performance Studio in Affalterbach AMG has the capability to design, develop and build low volume niche cars beyond anything previously carrying the three-pointed star.

Give me the highlights…

The starting point is a standard SLK55. Power from the 5.5-litre V8 is upped by 40bhp to 400bhp via tweaked valve timing, new headers and a free-flow (and immensely loud) exhaust. Weight is everything. The metal folding roof is dumped in favour of a carbon fibre version to make the SLK a fixed-head coupe. This not only slashes the kerb weight (the new roof weighs half as much as the old one) but also lowers the centre of gravity.

By: Angus Fitton

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Need to know

Handling

Performance

Usability

Feelgood factor

Readers' rating

Statistics

How much?	£73,795
On sale in the UK:	5439cc, V8, 400bhp @ 5750rpm, 383lb ft @ 5000rpm
Engine:	seven-speed auto, rear wheel drive
Transmission:	0-62mph in 4.5secs, 175mph, 23.5mpg, 288g/km CO2
Performance:	steel and carbon fibre / 1495kg
How heavy / made of?	4089/1777/1295
How big (length/width/height in mm)?	SLK55 AMG