STUTTGART, GERMANY – Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled its most powerful series production road car to date: the 670-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6.0L V-12-powered SL65 AMG Black Series. The SL65 AMG Black Series will be produced in a limited run of 350 over a 12-month period — and some 200 have been earmarked for the U.S. market. The new two-seat coupe is the third Black Series model from Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance-car division in recent years. The SLK55 and CLK63 Black Series models were launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively, according to www.edmunds.com.

To be priced at around $320,000, the SL65 AMG Black Series slots into the Mercedes-Benz lineup as an indirect replacement for the McLaren-built SLR coupe, which ceased production late last year upon the introduction of the SLR roadster. It is also rumored to incorporate a number of engineering solutions planned for the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLC, a two-seat coupe and convertible pairing that are due out in 2011.

According to Mercedes-Benz, the SL65 AMG Black Series will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed limited to 199 mph. Meanwhile, with a lower overall weight, fuel consumption improves from 15.6 mpg to 16.3 mpg in U.S. figures.

Mercedes-Benz has developed two different interior layouts in consideration of the difference in safety standards between Europe and the United States. The Europe-bound SL65 AMG Black Series gets seatbelts anchored in the newly created B-pillar and does without side airbags. Those for the U.S. retain the standard seats with integral seatbelts and side airbags, according to www.edmunds.com.