Mercedes-Benz introduces super coupe: SL65 AMG Black Series - San Francisco Chronicle
The SL65 AMG Black Series coupe makes a very definitive statement about its intended purpose. The potent U.S. spec V12 produces 661 horsepower at 5400 rpm and delivers 738 pound-feet of torque at 2200 to 4200 rpm. The engine connects to AMG's Speedshift Plus five-speed automatic transmission, which features four shift modes: "C," "S," "M1" and "M2," selectively gearing power to the rear wheels. Shifting may be handled in completely automatic fashion, via the shift stalk, or with the wheel-mounted paddles.
Horsepower isn't the only attribute that constitutes a true sports car, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a stable full, particularly when it's accompanied by ample doses of torque and enough braking power to quickly rein things to a halt when necessary. Fold in lots of stability enhancement features, safety and security controls and really nice surroundings from which to operate, and you've got an exceptional example of high performance motoring finery. There's even a two-battery concept - one solely for starting the engine (which may be done simply by pushing a button fitted in the top of the gearshift lever), and another in the trunk that provides power for the car's electrical and electronic componentry. An integrated ECU controls the power supply while managing a demand-based battery charging system, complete with a crossover default system between batteries.
