Celebrity Life

While the 275 buyers who successfully placed an order for the long-awaited Mercedes-AMG One hypercar, unveiled in 2017 but delayed until next year, are still kicking their heels in anticipation, the German manufacturer’s high-performance division has pulled the wraps off what is, in the interim, its most powerful-ever road car.

Based on AMG’s two-seat GT coupe, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series boasts a 4-litre, twin turbocharged V8 engine that produces 720bhp (more than 140 horses in excess of the current range-topping GT R Pro), which is good enough for a 3.2-second 0-100km/h acceleration time and a maximum speed of 325.

[caption id="attachment_208834" align="aligncenter" width="2064"] Although it’s based on the current AMG engine’s architecture, the Black Series’ M178 LS2 motor might as well be regarded as a brand-new unit, as it features a flat-plane crankshaft, much as in many racing cars as well as road-going Ferraris and McLarens – and enthusiasts will surely delight in the fact that it’s red-lined at 7,300rpm. Among other new internals are revised camshafts, exhaust system and turbochargers, and though torque is marginally down in comparison with more regular engines, it still pushes out a monstrous 800Nm of twist, all of which is available between 2,000 and 6,000rpm.[/caption]

Naturally such radical tweaks as these are accompanied by revisions to the Speedshift transmission (the seven-speed dual-clutch box has been upgraded to handle the increased power and there’s a new and considerably lighter carbon-fibre driveshaft) and to the aerodynamics, with a vast active biplane aerofoil to plant the Black’s hindquarters on to the ground, as well as modifications to the car’s front splitter and diffuser.

Weight reduction is also part of the formula, with extensive use of carbon for the car’s underbody, roof and rear hatch. As for the dynamic systems, the traction control has nine settings – and if all that isn’t crazy enough for you, AMG also offers a Track Pack that outfits the car for weekend jaunts at the circuit, with race harnesses, fire extinguisher and an internal body cage.

Mercedes has given no indication as to whether its new Black Series flagship will be built as a limited edition, but whatever the numbers the queue of potential buyers for this marvellously monstrous machine will almost certainly be a lengthy one. You know you want one!

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