2012 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Black Series

With the C-Coupe arriving earlier this year and the C63 AMG Coupe close behind, the two-door version of Benz's small sedan is now getting an evil twin. Continuing the DTM-inspired, hardcore performance spirit of past Black Series cars, the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe is much more than just a standard AMG car with bigger fenders.

The Black Series edition is powered by a version of Mercedes' now legendary, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8, which pumps out a robust 510 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque in this application. The engine's forged pistons, connecting rods, and lightweight crankshaft are straight out of the SLS AMG. Running the show is a new high-performance engine control unit, which makes possible the claimed 4.2-second dash from zero to 60 mph.

The exhaust system announces the Black Series' 510 horses for the entire world to hear, but it's the AMG Speedshift seven-speed multi-clutch transmission that puts that power to work. The four-mode semi-auto gearbox automatically matches revs on downshifts and can change gears in a claimed 100 milliseconds when in "Sport Plus" or "Manual" modes. A rear-axle differential lock is meant to provide ideal traction for the race track, while the three-phase Electronic Stability Program (ESP) optimizes traction for all other real-world driving situations.