The Mercedes-Benz is not just a celebrated high-end day to day car, it’s also valued for its high-performance race cars and participates on racetracks. The brand is also proud of its history-making origins. Its found Carl Benz invented the first automobile in 1886 which was the three-wheeled self-propelled car called the “Motorwagen.” Consequently, Benz owns the first license ever issued.
Mercedes-Benz also introduced the first breaks on four-wheeled vehicles. They’re manufactured in 30 countries around the world and its logo represents the air, land, and water.
5. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (196 mph)
Stunning beauty, a powerful roaring engine, seamless controls, and blistering speed are some of the attributes that define a true supercar. Any auto enthusiast will tell you how hard it is to find a car that is endowed with all three. Well, Mercedes-Benz did not get that memo, and in 2012 produced a car that is the blend of all three. Introducing the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; the auto world’s equivalent of the beauty and the beast.
Opening the hood and you see what powers this gem. The SLS AMG Black Series is powered by a 6.3-litre 32-valve V8 engine with port fuel injection, and aluminum block and heads. Stuffing the large engine in the SLS AMG Black Series which generate 622 hp at 7400 rpm allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 3.2 seconds and attain a top speed of 196 mph.
This makes the SLS AMG Black Series the fifth-fastest Mercedes-Benz car and is the only entrant on our list with a top speed that is under 200 mph. It is surprising that this supercar weighs just under 3,500 pounds despite having a beast for an engine. The light-weight is brought about by Mercedes-Benz’s use of carbon fiber in the manufacturing of the vehicle’s space frame and body panels. The interior is also a sight to behold, having two sports bucket seats from AMG that are complemented by red seat belts, and Alcantara upholstery on the dashboard.
The car represents the fifth installment of the Black Series which goes back to the pioneering 2006 SLK 55 AMG Black Series. Mercedes-Benz used the 2012 LA auto show to launch three newcomers from its brand. However, it was the SLS AMG Black Series that stole the show.
While the new car had borrowed heavily from the earlier SLS AMG GT3 in its appearance including the distinctive gull-wing doors, it came with new features that were previously reserved for race cars. One As a testament to the supercar’s positive reception during the launch, the SLS AMG Black Series would later emerge as the “Sports car of the year 2013” by AUTO GILD magazine.
While the SLS AMG Black Series is not as expensive as the insanely-priced Stirling Moss, you still need deep pockets to buy one. The supercar came with a price tag of $0.25 million when it first hit the auto markets. The car is also among the most exclusive supercars from Mercedes-Benz in the US since only 132 of them were made for the American market.
4. The 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR (205 mph)
The FIA GT Championships of 1997 were of great import to Mercedes-Benz. The auto company had labored for months to come up with the ideal race car that would go against previous winners like Ferrari and Porsche. Mercedes-AMG, the brand mandated by Mercedes-Benz to manufacture the perfect race car went to extreme lengths behind the scenes.
After keeping the auto world guessing, the CLK GTR was finally introduced at the start of the 1997 tournament. The car was a racing marvel, having excellent aerodynamics, wing doors, and a body entirely made of carbon fiber. Powering the CLK GTR was a Mercedes-Benz M120 V12 engine which produced 620hp and a torque measuring 538 lb-ft, allowing the supercar to attain a top speed of 205 mph. With the powerful race car, Mercedes-Benz posted a spectacular performance during the competition, earning the team championship and a one-two victory.
After experiencing much success with the racing variant of the CLK GTR, Mercedes Benz turned its focus on manufacturing a road car. The first CLK GTR road car was produced in 1997 in line with the provisions of the FIA but the manufacturer held on to it. Production of the road car started in 1998 and took place at AMG’s Affalterbach factory. Mercedes-Benz would ultimately produce a total of 35 cars between 1998 and 1999 making the CLK GTR a truly rare specimen.
Two of these cars were prototypes which uniquely bore a plaque that stated “limited edition.” Virtually all the road variants of the CLK GTR were left-hand drive with the exception of two which were produced for the Sultan of Brunei.
For the road car, Mercedes-Benz would ramp up some of the specifications in the race car. The engine was one area that saw adjustments with Ilmor Engineering increasing its displacement to 6.9L from 6.0L. The racing air restrictor was also removed giving the engine a torque of 572 lb-ft and generate 604hp. The turned up specifications allowed the CLK GTR road car to reach a top speed of 214 mph.
The car was Falso able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, making it one of Mercedes-Benz fastest offerings. Driver safety was still paramount and so traction control was added into the supercar. Other additional features that were incorporated into the design included an air conditioning system, two storage lockers beneath the doors, and an exquisite leather interior.
One ironic aspect about this supercar is the fact that the manufacturer aimed to have its price low when designing the road variant of the CLK GTR. To this end, Mercedes-Benz would have driver comfort low in its list of priorities during the designing of the car so as to have customers have the raw experience of a race car.
Despite all these adjustments to keep the price low, the CLK GTR fetched a price of over $1.5 million which saw it become the world’s most expensive production car according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
3. The Mercedes-Benz Roadster 722 S (208 mph)
It is apparent that the McLaren-Mercedes partnership was truly heaven-sent as it gifted the auto world with some of the fastest supercars. One product from this partnership was the Mercedes-Benz Roadster 722 S. With a top-speed of 208 mph and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds, the Roadster 722 S is the fastest roadster variant in the SLR installment of McLaren and is only exceeded in speed by the startling SLR Stirling Moss.
Mercedes-Benz announced the arrival of the 722 S in 2008 and the supercar was later unveiled during the 2008 Frankfurt Motor Show. The name “722 S” was chosen in honor of the legendary Mercedes Benz 300 SLR that was driven by British driver Stirling Moss in 1955. The starting time for this Mercedes Benz 300 SLR during the 1955 Mille Miglia was 7:22 AM.
The first units of the Mercedes-Benz Roadster 722 S were released on January 2009 with only 150 units being produced in total. The supercar came with a price tag of over $480,000 at its time of release. But the rarity of this roadster has made its price skyrocket and one is currently being sold for $1.44 million.
The 722 S is no ordinary SLR. First, the roadster is powered by a supercharged 5.5L Mercedes-AMG V8 engine producing 650hp. The interior of the roadster is a work-of-art featuring two comfortable sports bucket seats which are upholstered with Alcantara and semi-aniline leather. Each of the two headrests has the “722 S” embossed on it. For music, the car sports the world-class BOSE Premium sound system.
Anyone who has tried having a conversation inside a speeding drop-top can attest to how one has to shout himself or herself hoarse. However, this inconvenience is absent in the 722 S, something that was made possible when the engineers behind the 722 S incorporated state-of-the-art aeroacoustics in its design which makes it possible for people have seamless conversations even when the car is at top-speed.
2. The SLR McLaren Stirling Moss Edition (220 mph)
One of the highlights of the 2009 NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) was the unveiling of the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss. The car was unlike any other produced under the McLaren-Mercedes partnership. A look at this supercar leaves one thinking that its designers tore all the rule books when coming up with its physical appearance.
To drive this car you’ll have to wear a helmet considering the absence of a roof and a windshield. You read that right. The car has no windshield and instead has wind deflectors. The removal of these features was necessary as it led to a reduction of 400 pounds in the car’s overall weight. The absence of the windshield and roof also helps to lower the car’s center of gravity for easy controlling and making it possible for a driver to make sharper turns than in other SLR editions.
However, the most outstanding feature of the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss is its speed. The SLR McLaren Stirling Moss is able to attain a top-speed at 220 mph, making it among the world’s fastest cars bearing the three points of Mercedes-Benz. The car is able to achieve such blistering speed due to what it packs under its hood.
The supercar is powered by its supercharged 5.4-litre V8 engine which puts out 640hp. Having such a powerful engine only translates into an incredible performance for the car, as it is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in below 3.5 seconds.
It is impossible to discuss this unique car without mentioning the racing driver after whom it is named. Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss was a British Formula One driver who had an amazing racing career in the mid-20th Century. Sir Moss captivated racing fans around the globe in his career that lasted a decade between 1951 and 1961.
He is fondly remembered for his record-breaking win during the 1955 British Grand Prix where he was part of the Mercedes Benz team. His car during the competition, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was used for inspiration by the designers of the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss.
Commercial production of this fast car commenced in June 2009 and all the planned 75 cars had been produced by the end of 2009. The car is, by all means, expensive, with each of the 75 cars carrying a price tag of $1 million and was only available to customers who owned other cars of the SLR class.
As an ultra-rare car, the price of the SLR McLaren Stirling Moss has risen exponentially since production ended in 2009. One car is currently up for sale in Germany, and it bears a price tag of a mind-boggling $3.3 million.
1. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Kleemann (221 mph)
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Kleemann is one car that commands attention. Why? It could be due to its elongated hood, its carbon fiber body, or its gull-wing doors. However, what makes this car special is seen after it is fired up.
The supercar is able to sprint from 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and 9.3 seconds to go from 0-124 mph. The speedometer reads 221 mph when the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Kleemann is at top-speed, earning it the top spot in our list of the five fastest Mercedes-Benz cars.
Flinging open its elongated hood exposes the heart powering this supercar; it packs a 6.2 L V8 engine that delivers 770hp and a torque measuring 623 RPM. To generate such impressive power the car manufacturer incorporated a supercharger that is entirely made of aluminum. The raw power of the engine is evident from the sounds it produces when ignited as it alternates from low purrs to a powerful roar.
Its world-class exhaust system also plays a part in the symphony produced by the SLS AMG Kleemann as it features a dual mid-muffler, a flapper that is remote-controlled, and an X pipe. The addition of this special exhaust system gave the SLS AMG Kleemann added about 50hp in its power.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Kleemann was forged after Danish auto-company Kleemann decided to install its famed supercharger system into the already speedy Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the results were astonishing. The Kleemann supercharger system injected an additional 187hp on the 583hp produced by a regular SLS AMG naturally-aspirated V8 engine.
It took about nine months and countless tests for the supercar to be deemed fit for road-use, and it was released in 2013. When it comes to price, this car is relatively cheap, compared to other entrants in our list. To buy this supercar you’ll have to part with $460,000.