While Jedi masters have no numbers to measure the cosmic force that gives them their power, the car industry does. In the case of the new Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG roadster recently launched in South Africa, those figures read 450kW and 1000Nm of torque.
If the SL65 AMG were a Jedi, it would kick Luke Skywalker's and Darth Vader's butts. Indeed, the Force is strong in this one, and the source of its power is a mighty V12, twin-turbo, six-litre engine with water charge-air cooling.
Merc's AMG division developed it and this remarkable, hand-assembled engine makes more torque at idle than a BMW M5 makes maximum.
Let's take a moment to consider where this places the R1.75-million Benz roadster in the pecking order:
- Lamborghini's fastest sports car, the Murcielago, wields 426kW and 650Nm.
- Ferrari's flagship, the Enzo, makes 485kW and 658Nm.
- Porsche's top model, the Carrera GT, brings 450kW and 590Nm to the party.
The super SL is the world's most powerful production roadster and even out-torques Merc's own McLaren SLR supercar that makes 460kW and 780Nm.
There's 570Nm at 1000rpm (50Nm more than an M5's maximum torque), rising to 830Nm 1500rpm later.
Harnessing this muscle is a modified AMG sports suspension with firmer damping, a mechanical differential lock and a new AMG high-performance brake system with internally ventilated composite discs front and rear.
The SL65 AMG is fitted, as are all other SL roadsters, with brake-by-wire SBC (Sensotronic brake control).
The electronic active body control (ABC) system adjusts suspension resilience to reduce pitch and roll and the driver can select an even sportier mode at the touch of a button.
Re-worked dynamic handling control systems such as ABS, brake assist and ESP (electronic stability program) complete the enhanced chassis set-up.
Power is transmitted through a five-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel gearshift controls and manual mode. To deal with all the power the rear axle, wheel bearings and drive shafts have been beefed up.
The driven rear wheels have a limited-slip differential to boost traction under hard acceleration.
Styling aggression
This car is visual, as well as mechanical, dynamite. Styling aggression that sets the SL65 apart from "garden variety" SL's includes 19" grey alloy wheels, a bolder apron, larger air intakes, a chromed "V12 Biturbo" logo on each front wing and an AMG-specific radiator grille.
Highlights at the rear include dark-tinted tail lights and a quartet of oval exhausts. Even the aluminium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastic engine cover is a visual delight.
The scarlet leather cabin was pure porno but other, more sedate, colour choices are available. You're gripped in place by electrically adjustable AMG sports seats that come with heaters so you can drive with the roof down in winter.
Said roof is a hardtop that takes just a few seconds to unfold at the touch of a button.
Other standard equipment in the SL65 includes the AMG instrument cluster with Alcantara surround, a speedo that goes up to 360km/h, door sill panels in etched and polished aluminium with the AMG logo, bi-xenon headlights and voice command and DVD technology, a CD changer and a sound system.
So on to the big question: what does the SL65 AMG go like?
Phwoar! And, might I add, Phwoar!
Power is brutal and the acceleration is of the neck-stretching variety. Wide as the 285mm rear tyres are, aggressive throttle pressure will paint black stripes all over the road if you switch off traction control. So much grunt demands a careful right foot and this is one car where it's best to leave the traction control system engaged.
On the clock
Tested against the stopwatch at WesBank Raceway in Gauteng, the SL65 romped from rest to 100km/h in 4.9sec and clocked a quarter-mile (400m) time of 12.3. That's seriously, brutally brisk - although the car didn't quite make top place on our performance podium as we'd expected.
The less powerful but lighter Porsche 911 turbo is quicker to 100km/h at 4.6sec but the two cars post identical quarter-mile times.
The SL65 is a little quicker than its brother, the SL55 AMG, which has a 5.5-litre supercharged engine packing 368kW and 700Nm. The SL55's figures are 5.5 for 0-100km/h and 12.9 for the quarter mile.
The SL65 is unmatched in overtaking punch - only 3.5sec from 60-120km/h. That's the quickest we've tested and out-drags the 911 turbo by about 1.5sec.
The SL65 gathers pace relentlessly, showing no signs of stress as the speedo needle shoots past 200km/h, all the way to its electronically governed 300km/h top speed. Astonishing grunt, yet super refined. The V12 whooshes along with creamy smoothness, mustering a bit of a sporty growl but nothing like the hardcore blare made by the SL55.
Not surprisingly, it quaffs fuel in huge quantities, averaging 23 litres/100km.
Too much?
Being serious petrolheads, we generally subscribe to the theory that there's no such thing as too much power, but what's missing from the SL65's repertoire is the primal thrill of being able to floor the throttle out of corners.
You're almost always feathering the go pedal because there's just so much instant grunt and going pedal-to-metal is useless as the ESP system simply eats holes into the power delivery. Driving without ESP demands lots of bravery and skill as the car gets sideways with little provocation.
That makes it intimidating to drive; so does the fact that it's very heavy at 2.1 tons - about the same as a double-cab bakkie. So, while the SL65 has firm suspension and little body roll, it feels quite aloof. The person holding the wheel doesn't feel as intimately connected as in the much lighter (by 500kg) and more agile Porsche 911.
It's a heavy thing to slow down, too. The brakes work well in emergency stops from 100km/h but overheated after a few hard-braking attempts from 200km/h+.
SUMMARY
This ballistic Benz roadster is 1.75-million bucks worth of pure adrenalin. For sheer straight-line g-force only a small handful of exotic, much more expensive, supercars can meet or beat the SL65 AMG.
The truth is, however, that the world's most powerful roadster isn't quite the ultimate driver's machine because it's so heavy; it's more of an (obscenely) fast grand tourer than a corner-carving sports car.- Star Motoring