Jalopnik: black

Geely To Build Electric London Cab

Andrew Stoy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EDT

Geely, co-owner of Manganese Bronze, the manufacturer of the London Cab, is reportedly interested in converting the taxis to run on electric power. The Chinese automaker reportedly held talks with London mayor Boris Johnson during the Beijing Summer Olympics, and Geely chairman Li Shufu says "we are doing research on this project." In other words, it seems like a good idea but we don't know what motor we'll use or how we're going to package the batteries in a way that would still allow for passengers. Still, the Chinese have significant electric experience with minibikes and small vehicles — Tang Hua anyone? — so we're not going to doubt Geely's resolve. We just don't want to be the first fares one of these new electric London Cabs picks up.

[China Car Times]

2009 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series Back-End At Pebble Beach

Wes Siler — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:40:00 EDT

Only 350 of the 2009 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series supercars will ever be made, but that hasn't stopped one from appearing at the Pebble Beach Concours. The $320,000 Benz has a staggering 661 HP, but that's topped by the 6.0-liter V12's 738 lb.-ft of torque.

(Thanks to J.F. Musial for the tip!)

Pagani Zonda And Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Palling Around

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT

Derek D and the boys at Fast Lane Daily have scored an interesting pic of the next-gen Pagani Zonda buddying up with the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black for high-altitude testing in Colorado. This, of course, sets up rumors the new Zonda will have the same 6-liter V12 expected in the Blackest of SL's, instead of the anticipated V8. We're pretty sure nobody in the supercar world will complain about a frenetic 600 HP V12 making noise in the new Pagani. Check out the Fast Lane Daily video below the fold for details, and the shout-out to yesterday's shocking BMW F1 news.

New Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series Dances Around Track On Video

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:40:00 EDT

With twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 under the bonnet blasting out 661 HP and 738 lb-ft of torque, the newly-revealed 2009 Mercedes Benz SL65 Black, the pointy-star brand has really upped its game when it comes to tweaking out production platforms. In fact, as the video below the jump shows, watching it in action is nothing short of automotive pornography.

Now that is one spicy German monster of a meatball.

SL65 Black Series Spotted, Will Match SLR's Performance

Wes Siler — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Autocar reports that the 2009 SL65 AMG Black Series will feature performance to rival the 206mph SLR, but will cost around $200,000 less. That means 0-60 in 3.8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph from the twin turbo, 650bhp V12.

To achieve this level of performance, 300kg has been taken out of the SL's body, largely by replacing the folding hard top with a fixed carbon fiber roof. In fact, the only body panels shared with the standard model are the doors. This is made additionally necessary by the widened tracks front and rear.

The SL65 Black Series will make a track appearance at this year's Grand Prix of Germany in July, followed by an official unveiling towards the end of the year. [Via Autocar]

Black Is In, Yellow Is Out When It Comes To Used Car Color Preferences

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT

According to a somewhat non-scientific report by used car retailer CarMax, Black was the most frequently searched color for used car buyers in February with 36% of all searches, followed by white with 17%, blue with 11% and red with 10%. The four least popular colors were silver with 9%, gray with 6%, green with 4% and yellow with 2%. Sorry about that Nick Hogan, apparently our "what's your favorite black car? QOTD is changing minds. Press release below the jump.

CARMAX REPORTS MOST POPULAR VEHICLE COLORS

RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2008) - CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) the nation's largest retailer of used cars, reports the color black has topped the list as the most popular color for vehicle searches conducted on carmax.com in February.

"We find color choice is a very important consideration for customers when car shopping," said Mark Simmons, Purchasing Manager in San Diego, California. "I am not surprised that black tops the list. The color black looks good on nearly every make and model."

Used car shoppers' top five color choices for online searches in February were:

Color Choice Percent of Searches
Black 36%
White 17%
Blue 11%
Red 10%
Silver 9%

Other colors of interest to online shoppers included gray (6%), green (4%) and yellow (2%).

Online shoppers can use the CarMax website to search the company's inventory of more than 25,000 new and used cars. The website showcases each vehicle with multiple photos, the no-haggle price, and information on features, options, fuel economy and customer reviews. In fiscal 2008, carmax.com averaged more than five million visits per month. Additionally, approximately 70 percent of in-store customers visited the website before coming to the store.

[Source: CarMax]

What Car Looks Best In Black?

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST

No matter what anyone says, black is always the new black. It's the absence of color and therefore the definition of cool. Color palettes are constantly evolving (or devolving) in the automotive world, but black is always there. It can be sporty. It can be luxurious. It can be tough. It's at home on a Rolls Royce, a Chevy Yukon and a B-2 Spirit. At Geneva we had the matte black Bullit Black Arrow, the glossy black Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and the, well, black Infiniti FX50. All of them better than the Easter-on-acid Fab Benzes.

Black even made my old 94 Escort hatch look somewhat respectable. We put it to you, dear commenters, what car looks best in black?

BRABUS Bullit Black Arrow Is Blacker Than Ever

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:45:00 EST

BRABUS introduced the wicked Brabus Bullit V12-powered C-Class sleeper at Frankfurt last year and, not wanting to let floor space go to waste, has introduced the follow up Black Arrow. Like the previous Bullit, the sedan still sports the 6.3-Liter V12 Biturbo engine good for 720 horsepower and 974 ft.-lbs. of torque (though limited to just 811 ft.-lbs. to keep the car in one piece). It'll still jog to 62 mph in just 3.9 second. And it still has a top speed of 224 mph. The difference? It's freaking matte black. Matte black is the new black, or something. Either way, for just $530,000 you could have the matte blackest Benz on the block. Press release and more pics below.

The Four-Door V12 Biturbo Stealth Super Sports Car With 730 hp (720 hp SAE net), 1,320 Nm (974 lb-ft), 0 - 300 km/h (186 mph) in 24.5 seconds and a Top Speed of More than 360 km/h (225 mph)
Ultra powerful, ultra fast and conspicuously inconspicuous: The four-door stealth super sports car BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW offers performance superlatives like no other car on the market: The basis for the car is the body of the new C-Class sedan, covered with a special matte-black coating. The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo twelve-cylinder engine was dropped into the engine bay with almost surgical precision. Performance is staggering: 3.9 seconds from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph), 24.5 seconds for 0 - 300 km/h (186 mph) and a top speed of more than 360 km/h (225 mph). BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) produces the BULLIT BLACK ARROW in small-series production starting at 348,000 Euros MSRP.

The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW ensures that the world's fastest sedans continue to come from Bottrop. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW follows in the footsteps of the 330-km/h (206 mph) BRABUS E V12 based on the W 210-series Mercedes E-Class, the 350.2-km/h (219 mph) E V12 Biturbo of the new W 211 generation and the world's current fastest sedan, the 365.7- km/h (227.2 mph) BRABUS ROCKET based on the Mercedes CLS.

Numerous modifications to the reinforced body were necessary to install the turbocharged V12 engine in the C-Class engine bay. The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo engine is derived directly from the BRABUS ROCKET and uses the latest Mercedes S 600 engine that has been completely reworked in the company-own engine building shop.

Nothing beats displacement except even more displacement: A crankshaft with longer stroke, larger cylinder bore, and special pistons and piston rods increase displacement of the twelve-cylinder three-valve engine from 5.5 to 6.3 liters (336 to 385 cu. in.).

Cylinder heads optimized for faster gas exchange and high-performance camshafts also contribute to the increase in power output. They are assisted by a more efficient dual turbocharging system, special manifolds, larger turbochargers and larger intercoolers. Because of space constraints in the C-Class body an entirely new stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with low back-pressure metal catalysts had to be developed.

The BRABUS motor engineers used state-of-the-art engine test benches to program new mapping for engine electronics and on-board diagnostics. The new mapping ensures optimal power yield while meeting strict EURO IV emission limits.

The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine, lubricated like all BRABUS high-performance engines with ARAL Synthetic motor oil, produces 730 hp (720 hp SAE net) / 537 kW at just 5,100 rpm. The peak torque of 1,320 Nm (974 lb-ft) is limited in-car electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission and a BRABUS limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent. Customers can choose from two final drive ratios. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW features all modern driving dynamics systems such as ABS, ASR and ESP.

The matte-black stealth street rocket delivers unique performance: Just 3.9 seconds pass for the sprint from 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph), 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached after just 10.49 seconds. And after just 24.5 seconds the car shatters the 300-km/h barrier (186 mph). Top speed is more than 360 km/h (225 mph).

At these speeds favorable aerodynamic properties are absolutely essential. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW was honed to perfection in the wind tunnel. The BULLIT front apron features large air ducts to supply cooling air for radiators and front brakes. Its sophisticated design further reduces lift on the front axle. Its aerodynamic counterparts in the rear are a three-piece rear spoiler and a rear apron with integrated diffuser. Both front and rear aprons are made from especially light yet highly robust autoclave-baked carbon fiber.

A wider track optimizes directional stability so elementary at speeds beyond 300 km/h. The BRABUS designers have styled aluminum wheel arch flares for front and rear axle. They are seamlessly melded to the production body and add six centimeters (2.4 inches) to the C-Class width. BRABUS rocker panels optimize the airstream along the sides. They also feature integrated entry lights that make entering and exiting the vehicle safer in the dark.

The visual appearance of the BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW is further characterized by the new aluminum hood. Its integrated 'gills' are not just distinctive features, they also ensure the engine's thermal health.

The wheel arch flares provide space for especially wide matte-black BRABUS Monoblock S light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires from technology partners YOKOHAMA or Pirelli. The 9.5Jx19 wheels on the front axle are shod with size 265/30 ZR 19 tires. The rear axle is fitted with size 10Jx19 wheels and size 285/30 ZR 19 tires.

The height-adjustable coil-over suspension was developed specifically for the BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW. The gas-pressure shocks feature ten selectable settings each for bound and rebound. They provide a sporty yet comfortable ride and safe handling in any situation. Sport stabilizers reduces body roll to a minimum during fast cornering.

The BRABUS high-performance brake system can handle even the most extreme stress. It features 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the front axle that grip vented and grooved 380 x 37 millimeter (15 x 1.46 inches) brake discs. The rear axle stops with 360 x 28 millimeter (14.2 x 1.1 inches) discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers.

Exclusive individuality also abounds in the interior of the BRABUS automobile: The standard equipment package includes a fully leather interior hand-crafted in the company-own upholstery shop from the finest Mastik and Nubuk leathers.

The custom BULLIT seats offer a perfect combination of comfort and lateral support. Their carbon-fiber rear covers lend the interior an especially sporty feel. This look is complemented by carbon-fiber components on dashboard, center console and door panels as well as by the ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals and shifter.

[BRABUS]

Mercedes SL Black Series

Ray Wert — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:30:00 EDT

Yesterday we saw a very heavily camouflaged Mercedes SL Black Series running around the roads in northern Germany. Well, the quick-to-snap shooters at KGP have one-upped those shots by getting us some not-as-much-camouflaged shots of the same Mercedes SL Black tester as the car left the Mercedes workshops and headed over to the Nürburgring to get some laps in. Although we've still no idea what's under the bonnet, some have mentioned the CLK63 AMG's 6.3-liter 500 HP V8 as a possible choice. One thing's for sure is this ain't your father's SL — it looks more like it was designed for the father of this guy we've heard about named Luke from Tatooine. The spy report from KGP below the jump.

The unclad prototype shows off some of the front-end styling of the facelifted SL spotted two months ago in Death Valley, but the extreme styling elements of this model set it apart in grand fashion. Air management is apparently a big priority for the SL Black Series, with the vented hood, and deep front bumper intakes which lead to extraction ducts behind the front wheel flares.
The hugely flared fenders are likely created with ultra-light carbon fibre, to reduce weight and to accommodate this car's enormous wheels and tires. The roof on this SL has been converted into a fixed coupe roof, also crafted in carbon fibre to lower the Black Series' center of gravity and further reduce weight.

Judging from the sculpting on the car's rear deck lid, the large rear wing standing tall on this test car actually appears to be retractable, allowing for smoother lines when speeds allow. I'm sure that most drivers of a car like this Black Series will appreciate a break from the Fast and the Furious rear wing treatment when they're rolling up to the valet. But more than any SL that has come before, this prototype is more about extreme performance than it is about slick curb appeal.

Anarchy in the USA

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:57:43 EST

Whenever Davey G gets into whichever high-powered, oh-so precise German engineering testament I happen to be driving, we always have a good laugh, musically speaking. Whether we're blasting the Minutemen while driving past D Boon and Bukowski's graves in a $130,000 AC Schnitzer thinking of ways to get Watt in a Bentely, or shouting along to Black Flag's White Minority in the RS4 high above it all in Pacific Palisades, we know we are complete and total corndogs. And while we can't agree on where a hatchback ends and a sport wagon begins, we both agree that Paul Rachman's new film effing Rawks! [Thanks to XL Perro for the tip] – Loverman

American Hardcore [Sony Picture Classics]

Last Night Everything Broke/Dietrich Ate My Homework: Jalopnik/TTAC's AC Schnitzer Adventure [Internal]