Filed under: Coupes (http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/), Hybrids/Alternative (http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/), Sedans/Saloons (http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/), Green (http://www.autoblog.com/category/green/), Supercars (http://www.autoblog.com/category/supercars/), Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/), AMG (http://www.autoblog.com/category/amg/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/amg_black.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977287/)
Click above for more high-res shots of the SL65 AMG Black Series


Saying that "only a fool would ignore" the emissions of a new vehicle and the current global economy, AMG head-man Volker Mornhinweg realizes that it can't keep building gas-guzzling supercars with reckless abandon. Not that the company will lose its performance edge, mind you. In fact, hybrids and diesels could offer a meaningful performance boost if tuned properly. How so? Torque. Diesel engines are known for their massive axle-shreading twist, and electric motors, an essential part of any hybrid powertrain, make maximum power right off idle, allowing for an internal combustion engine that's tuned for stratospheric revs.

In a recent interview with CAR, the notion of fitting a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter oil-burning V6 inside the C class was kicked around. Mornhinweg suggests such a vehicle is a distinct possibility as AMG moves forward. Hybrid technology could be based on the new drivetrain powering the recently-unveiled S400 BlueHYBRID (http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/17/mercedes-benz-s400-bluehybrid-unveiled/). No matter what the future holds, we can be sure that the AMG crew is obviously not made up of a bunch of fools, and will therefore continue to offer cars with the highest performance pedigree, regardless of what's underhood.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Live Shots (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/sl65blackserieslive_01_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977284/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/sl65blackserieslive_02_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977285/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/sl65blackserieslive_03_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977286/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/sl65blackserieslive_04_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977287/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/08/sl65blackserieslive_05_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg-black-series-live-shots/977288/)

[Source: CAR (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/AMG-plans-greener-cleaner-performance-cars/?content-block=1)]

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