The Mercedes SLS AMG may not even be on sale until the middle of next year, but already there's talk of multiple versions to follow, and even aftermarket kits for the retro supercar.
There's already been talk of convertible and electric versions of the SLS in the pipeline, and now according to Autocar, Mercedes bosses have given the green light to an SLS Black edition. As with other Black Series models in the AMG range the SLS Black will bring astonishingly expensive performance gains to the already potent coupe. And, er, make it look 'blacker', probably.
Details are sketchy at present, but a larger manifold, higher compression ratio, re-profiled camshafts and other unspecified modifications are said to bring power from 563bhp to around 600bhp, and torque from 479lb ft up to around 500lb ft. Weight should be reduced by around 50kg over the standard car's 1620kg, and a new mechanical locking differential will sit with the existing seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.
The estimated performance gains are relatively modest (though we're still talking pretty bonkers figures here), with 0-60 down 0.4 seconds to 3.5 seconds, and max speed up from 195mph to 208mph.
The SLS Black will command an appropriately serious price hike, expected to float around the £200k mark, up from the standard car's £155k. Sadly there are no renderings or drawings to show you just yet, but there should be subtle aerodynamic tweaks along with not-so-subtle black paint and wheels - it's not hard to visualise!
If that sort of look isn't for you but you're still not content with the standard SLS's neat retro form, how about this for an alternative. US firm Gullwing-America have come up with an extensive body kit for anybody who feels the 'boggo' SLS isn't quite retro enough. It adds seven separate pieces of hybrid aluminium and carbon fibre, along with bespoke wheels and some interior bits all designed to evoke the 300SL rather more directly than the Merc successor does in standard guise.
The package, known as the 'Panamerica', can even be spec'd with racing stripes. Being as fair as possible with this kit, we'll have to say it's 'different strokes for different strokes', but even with prices unannounced, it's hard to imagine
somebody money to do that to your shiny new SLS...
Finally while we're having this little SLS-fest, it's also worth checking out the video below that Mercedes has just released. It shows several vignettes of the SLS's development, from pencil sketch to crash testing, and even some pretty spectacular driving footage.