SL-Class

Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Tuned by MKB

Words John Clark | August 23, 2010
Swabian engineers of the technology tuning company MKB add 345 hp to the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 Black Series
Words John Clark August 23, 2010

The highest commitment of MKB´s high performance engineering. Mercedes tuner MKB offers for the most powerful AMG supercar another 345 horsepower. The standard 670 hp are turned into 1,015 hp by the Swabian engineers of the technology tuning company MKB. The engine´s torque is limited to 1.300 Nm.

Before any lucky owner can turn the key of his SL 65 Black Series with the MKB P 1000 power train the car has to undergo an enormous engine conversion.

The new engine conversion for the most powerful AMG engine demanded the long term experience of the whole engineering team at MKB. The engineer’s basis is well known. Many AMG 65 owners trust MKB performance tuning and so they reach regularly speeds with their luxury coupes and luxury sedans on the Autobahn, speeds at which modern jet fighters had retracted their landing gear already.

The club sports AMG SL 65 Black Series plays a new role in the AMG product range but it must not step out of the classic power performance line at MKB. “Our main goal with the new engine MKB P 1000 isn´t a new one. We simply want to give back the top speed performance to this SL with its high downforceaerosetting. It should be v-max capable just like our other top speed efficient cars. And for this we need more than 800 engine horsepower,” points out MKB CEO Panagiotis Avramidis. But even 900 hp are not enough when you are holding the technological key for over 1.000 hp.

In fact the idea behind the SL Black Series is a whole new concept at AMG. The new high performance in both longitudinal and lateral acceleration showed a new principle. A principle that reduces the v-max for a better race track experience. But at MKB the typical AMG club sports pilot is well known so one thing is clear to the MKB engineers: Especially the longitudinal acceleration must not stop to soon and the most merciless push out of any corner reduces the lap time most easily.

So the MKB engine modification is in its depths is absolute outstanding compared to any other tuned 12- cylinder AMG engine. If costs are neglect able then one can work on the power plant with a greater creativity – inside and outside. The MKB package for the AMG SL Black Series covers the whole drive train and offers the demanded reliability for high speed trials at Nardo or several hot laps on the Nürburgring in succession.

The engine conversion MKB P 1000. A new philosophy. The focus on turbo charging. For the Swabian enterprise MKB and most respected technology tuner for Mercedes and AMG cars the work on high performance power trains is business as usual. Decent exterior design, refinement in the interior but magnificent thrust under the bonnet adjusted brakes and wheels are the MKB key visual in the market.

But this MKB P 1000 marks MKB´s step into the future. Even the name shows it clearly. And in Swabian decency it underrates the performance slightly. The new MKB style is the adaption to the vehicle basis: the Mercedes performance product range will be based upon turbocharged engines in the near future. MKB demonstrates with the MKB P 1000 and its over 1.000 hp output the ultimate technology leadership in that business branch.

The 6.0 litre AMG V12 gets in the MKB P 1000 conversion a completely new engine periphery – this means air intakes, turbo charger systems, cooling systems are the visible means. Inside MKB works as consequent too. Apart from MKB camshafts the power ECU has the important job to control the flowing gases in a way that maximum power output, drivability and sustainability will be combined on a high level. The engine pushes significantly forward from 1.500 rpm onwards. Anything like a turbo lag is unknown. The automatic gearbox is converted too to meet the increased engine torque.

Additionally MKB offers MBK LSD rear axles with different ratios to reach different end speeds.

The roll-out was in direct competition

MKB technicians demonstrated their full confidence as they made the first roll out at Hockenheim during the international drag race. In front of 8.000 spectators and an astonished announcer the AMG Black series with its MKB P 1000 won his two shoot outs versus specialized drag racing US muscle cars. “To race the ¼ mile was new to us,” tells Panagiotis Avramidis, “and this car had a final drive good for a theoretical 370 km/h. So the car runs only in the first two gears on the drag strip. And as we told the professional competitors that we must use the normal high street tire pressure for safety reasons we have been laughed at. But in the end it turned out it was not so bad for us.”

The first presented Version will use the final drive ratio for 370 km/h at 5.700 rpm. The MKB v-max is not measured yet. The testing at Nardo or Papenburg oval course will be held soon. The car should be fun to drive not only on the motorway so the engine kept its place low above the front axle. The standard room in the engine compartment of the SL and other Mercedes cars were kept in mind when developing the turbo charging banks and the air intake ducts. The original looks of the car – even when the drive train is massively converted – means a lot to the typical MKB customer.

Unchanged at the exterior but with a performance far beyond of most super cars and still with the typical Mercedes comfort to reach any High-speed Event without bruises or a stiff neck. With this sentence one can describe the result after a MKB P 1000 conversion of any AMG SL Black Series best. All in all the MKB P 1000 is spot on with his basis in regards of everyday use but it speeds ahead easily if necessary. MKB offers this conversion as a custom hand built car in the MKB workshop. There is no production number limit for the engine. After the launch with the AMG SL Black Series all other AMG 65 cars can reach over 1.000 hp at the real wheels. The total cost for the engine tuning is 116.800.- EURO in Germany including 19 % VAT. As this tuning can be only done at MKB and takes a lot of efforts the conversion time will take up to 3 month.

Data:

  • Engine MKB P 1000 in the AMG SL Black Series
  • Basis: AMG 65. 6,0 Liter V12 3V
  • Power in PS / kW at RPM: 1.015 / 746 at 5.700
  • Torque in Nm at RPM: 1.300 at 3.300 to 6.000
  • Track Performance:
  • 0-100 km/h: 3,6 s
  • 0-200 km/h: 8,9 s
  • 0-300 km/h: 21,5 s
  • ¼ mile: 11,1 s
  • Vmax: not measured yet

MKB means unrestricted acceleration.

MKB vehicles are developed and constructed using state-of-the-art technologies. Instead of sacrificing potential to the emotionless cost-savings measures used for mass-produced cars, MKB unleashes that potential and pushes it to the limit with additional MKB technology. At MKB, the main focus is not on maximizing profits. It’s on the sheer joy of enjoying the full potential of modern automobiles – together with our passionate customers. Optimize the complete drive train – the engine, transmission and differential – is the focus of everything MKB does. Every MKB product comes from a constant, passionate drive to achieve maximum power, and from the search for the ideal technical solution.