Vilner's Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Shadow Line gets some Interior Love [with Video]

From the makers of the redone Hennessey Jeep SRT600 Grand Cherokee and Chevrolet Camaro V6, comes our next tune. Vilner, a relatively new company in the aftermarket industry based in Bulgaria, has prepared a styling proposal for the interior of the Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG.

The package is called "Shadow Line" and it treats the hardtop roadster's cabin with handmade leather goods starting from the seats and door panels and finishing up with the steering wheel, which is also upgraded with a thicker rim featuring a more flattened bottom area. The colors of choice for the leather seats and door panels are red and black with contrasting silver stitching completing the look.

While Vilner did not release pricing for the customized interior, the Bulgarian company did publish a neat video showing us the work that goes into the creation of the tailor-trimmed steering wheel. You can watch it right after the break.

_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Speed Ticket Survey: Mercedes-Benz SL and Toyota Solara Drivers Top the List

We recently told you about how the angriest drivers in Britain tend to be behind the wheel of a BMW. Now we have some speeding/insurance info from the States, and it's a bit surprising.

According to Quality Planning, a division of Verisk Analytics Inc., American Mercedes SL drivers are at least four times more likely to get ticketed than a run-of-the-mill motorist who presumably drives a Camry Solara or...no, wait, the Camry Solara/Coupe and Scion tC come in at second and third.

Oddly, the Pontiac Grand Prix is still on the list and making waves (scroll down for the full list with stats).

Of the top ten most ticketed cars, Mercedes and Toyota can each lay claim to three: the SL, the CLS63, and the CLK63, and the Camry Solara/Coupe, Scion tC, and xB. In defense of its speedy vehicles, Mercedes' spokesman Robert Moran says, "These are fun-to-drive cars, and sometimes people have a little too much fun enjoying them."

On the other side of the spectrum, people-hauling SUVs were among the least ticketed as long as we exclude the Hummer H2/H3; the lowest was actually the Buick Rainier.

The lesson here, kids, is skip the sex-on-wheels Benzos and just go for an old Buick SUV is you want to avoid tickets. Or, you could just restrain yourself...but where's the fun in that?

By Phil Alex

Source: Verisk Analytics , Via: BusinessWeek

___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

2012 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Spied on and about the 'Ring

The next-gen Mercedes SL63 AMG has officially been caught testing, aaaaaaaannnd...there it is. Much like the SLS and recently-revealed CLS, the front end of Merc's new hardtop roadster will sport a more in-your-grille fascia (punny, I know). It's so blunt and brutish, I'd say the German firm's stylists could have been helping Dodge with the 2011 Charger.

Up front you'll notice the padded bra covering wide-mouth AMG intakes, while the bigger alloys are there to house bigger AMG stoppers. Suspension and other special bits will probably be as differentiated as the current generation's lineup ("sportier" and "edgier" and so on), and the interior should feature an SL version of the new kinked center stack we're seeing in Benz's sporty models.

As for the car's powertrain, no surprises here as the SL63 will be motivated by AMG's all-new 5.5 liter Bi-Turbo V8 (still don't like that it's a "63" model, no matter what reasons are thrown behind it) hooked to a 7-speed automatic. The engine currently puts down 536 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque in the facelifted CL63 AMG, but those numbers could be tweaked by the time the new SL debuts.

Much like previous models, we can expect a speed de-limiter and probably a performance package that would bump the hardtop convertible SL63s output up to 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, throw in some bigger wheels and tires, and add some carbon fiber in the engine bay.

By Phil Alex

Brabus Takes on Merc's SL65 AMG Black Series with New T65 RS

The latest big Benz to come out of the Brabus garage is here - the new SL65 Black Series-based T65 RS, and it's screaming one thing: "That E V12 Coupe in Geneva was a sissy!"

Instead of the standard SL65 AMG Black Series' 670HP biturbo-V12, it gets the same modded 800-horsepower, 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft) twin-turbo Brabus V12 under the hood. Between the engine and that new hood scoop are four intercoolers while the car also gets a new stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with free-flow metal catalysts.

With all the modifications, the T65 RS hits 60 in 3.6 seconds (versus the basic Black's 3.9 seconds) and 200km/h (124mph) in 9.8 seconds, while top speed is once again limited to 320km/h or 200mph

Inside, you'll notice the Black's seats (which Clarkson couldn't bear) have been replaced with luxurious, multifunction pieces. Good call by the owner on that one, especially if this is doing any sort of real driving duties.

All that, and it still meets EURO IV emissions standards.

By Phil Alex