Motor Trend sent its Technical Director Frank Markus to the Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France where AMG is hosting the first press drive event for the new SLS AMG Black Series. But the Black was not the only interesting object at Paul Ricard that day. The Mercedes SLS Electric Drive was also there, so Frank went and checked that out too.

Compared to the SLS GT, the Black Series uses more carbon fiber body panels and a couple of lightweight components such as lithium-ion battery to shed a couple of stone. The power has also gone up, while the suspension is revised and there is an aero kit. Those stuff make the Black a better track car, but it is still one tail happy dog.

The SLS Electric Drive is the exact opposite of the Black. It is monstrously powerful and seriously fast, with a 0 to 60 time of 3.8 seconds, but there is no sign of that tail happiness here mainly because it is much heavier and also four-wheel driven.