Mercedes-AMG Confirms Black Sequence Will Return and the Subsequent One Has to Be Radical : Automotive Addicts

Automotive

Mercedes-AMG’s Black Sequence title has all the time carried a sure weight as a result of it represents the model at its most unfiltered. After an extended quiet stretch for the reason that final one, outgoing AMG CEO Michael Schiebe has now confirmed what lovers have been hoping to listen to: Black Sequence vehicles will not be lifeless, and future variations are completely occurring. Schiebe’s take is blunt and refreshing. He says Black Sequence is greater than a label, it’s an obligation, and if AMG goes to construct one, it has to ship the type of efficiency that justifies the badge.

That issues as a result of AMG is juggling extra sub-brands and particular initiatives than ever, together with newer concepts like Mythos. When requested the place Black Sequence matches in, Schiebe didn’t hesitate. The message was principally that AMG has been too profitable with Black Sequence to stroll away from it. The catch is that the bar stays extraordinarily excessive. In his phrases, a Black Sequence has to persuade on efficiency, and it must be radical. That one phrase tells you AMG understands these vehicles can’t be incremental, not in a world the place consumers can get big energy numbers from all types of automobiles.

As for what the following Black Sequence could be based mostly on, AMG might already be leaving breadcrumbs in public. The Idea AMG GT Monitor Sport that was teased whereas testing final summer season appears to be like just like the type of track-leaning basis that matches the Black Sequence playbook. The second-generation AMG GT is already positioned as AMG’s severe two-door weapon, and the previous-generation GT can also be the newest mannequin to put on the Black Sequence crown. If AMG goes to “go radical” once more, a hardcore GT variant is the apparent place to do it.

It’s price remembering simply how excessive the final one was. The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Sequence was not a light improve bundle. It got here with an infinite rear wing, a flat-plane-crank twin-turbo V8 making 720 horsepower, and it backed up the drama with actual monitor credentials. That automotive helped cement the trendy thought of Black Sequence as AMG’s no-excuses, no-compromises assertion piece, inbuilt restricted numbers and aimed immediately on the individuals who care about lap instances, aero, and really feel.

The Black Sequence story goes again additional than many more moderen followers understand, and the historical past reads like a best hits album of AMG extra. It started with the SLK55 AMG Black Sequence, a lighter, harder-edged roadster with a hand-built 5.5-liter V8 and really restricted manufacturing. Then got here the CLK63 AMG Black Sequence with a hand-built 6.2-liter V8 and a fame for being hilariously severe, adopted by the SL65 Black Sequence with a twin-turbo V12 that made it really feel like AMG constructed a cruise missile for the road.

After a brief hibernation, Black Sequence returned with monsters just like the C63 Black Sequence and the unforgettable SLS AMG Black Sequence, which stays probably the most visually dramatic AMGs ever because of its gullwing doorways and motorsport angle. That legacy explains why Schiebe calls the badge an obligation. It has all the time meant AMG at its most intense, and it’s additionally why the following one can’t be protected or well mannered. If AMG follows by on its “radical” promise, the return of Black Sequence might find yourself being probably the most thrilling efficiency tales of the following few years.

Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate fanatic with over 15 years of expertise immersed on the planet of vehicles. Whether or not it’s exploring the most recent developments in automotive know-how or holding a detailed pulse on breaking business information, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all issues automotive. His writing blends technical perception with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or underneath the hood, Lloyd enjoys take a look at driving the latest fashions and staying forward of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive panorama.