2006 MERCEDES BENZ SLK 55 AMG Black Series (R171) 5.4L V8 7AT (400 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Forget the SLK 55 AMG when you are looking at an SLK 55 AMG Black Series. Apart from some regular parts, the Black Series was a completely different car, from top to bottom.

The Mercedes-Benz decided to take off its gloves when it designed the Black Series. Gone were the comfort features and other things that made the SLK a comfortable ride over a bumpy road. The SLK 55 AMG was something not to mess around with and it was used as a safety car on some races around the world, and that meant it had to be fast. Very fast!

The bodywork was similar to the SLK 55 AMG, but with a different front bumper and featured new air-intakes in it to cool the brakes. There was a new design for the wheels as well. And, on top of that, the carbon-fiber roof from the non-removable hard-top completely changed the car. That’s right: unlike the rest of the SLKs lineup, the Black Series was no longer a convertible. By ditching the folding mechanism and other items related to it, the car was lighter and the center of gravity was lower.

Inside, the carbon fiber was installed on the dashboard and it was used as trims on the doors, and handbrake. The fixed-back carbon fiber sport-bucket seats offered very good support while hard cornering. The fully adjustable suspension made that possible, giving the car a higher level of grip.

Under the hood, there was the same 5.4-liter unit from the SLK 55 AMG, a naturally aspirated V8. It offered 400 hp and it was mated to a standard 7-speed automatic (double-clutch) gearbox. There was an option for a limited-slip differential in the back, especially for those who were daring enough to take the car on the track, where it belonged.