Two hauling Benzes, the most exclusive Mercedes you can buy
Date posted: 05-01-2007
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We never turn down the keys to a Mercedes-Benz, especially if it's black and chrome and looks evil. And if it weighs 18 tons, so much the better.
That's how we came to drive the Mercedes-Benz Actros Black Edition, a 612-horsepower limited-production heavy-duty truck with more menace than a pistol-toting pit bull.
The fact that we get to drive a sparkling silver, supercharged 617-hp Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren at the same time is just an unexpected bonus.
A huge first impression
The SLR McLaren might be a rarity in the exotic-car world, but the Mercedes-Benz Actros Black Edition is bigger, more powerful and even rarer still. Of the 60,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks rolled out over the course of 2006, only 250 examples of the Black Edition were built.
The truck's 15.9-liter turbocharged V8 delivers 611 hp and a whopping 1,991 pound-feet of torque at only 1,080 rpm. Over 12 feet tall, this über-Actros makes a testosterone-laden Hummer H1 look as effete as a pink Beetle, while a limited-production Porsche Carrera GT (just 1,270 were built) seems as common as a beige Camry. At the same time, owners of the Actros Black Edition are unlikely to be worried about the way this $290,000 truck looks while parked outside Europe's hottest nightclubs.
Even though it's a special edition and meant to be an attention-getting flagship for long-haul trucking companies, the Actros Black Edition does not slack off on the job. A towing capacity of 21,780 pounds and a fuel capacity of a bladder-busting (for the driver, that is) 317 gallons mean this prettified Actros isn't just for posing.
As you might imagine, the Actros isn't intended for a dash to the 7-Eleven for milk and lottery tickets. Special tests and licensing requirements mean we're confined to the lofty passenger seat when the truck is on public roads. Wolfgang, our friendly driver, deftly maneuvers the hulking truck through Stuttgart airport traffic and onto the autobahn. The cab's outside rearview mirrors offer spectacular views of cars and the trailer behind us.
The MegaCab configuration for this Actros provides yards of headroom, so you can stand right up, plus the swanky Black Edition offers extra goodies like a sunroof, automatic climate control, leather seat upholstery and a dash trimmed in bird's eye maple. A microwave, DVD player and fold-out bed are optional. We can vouch for the comfort of the bed, which is located behind the twin front seats. A quick stretch proved just what we needed after our early-morning flight. About the only letdown is the Actros' top speed of 50 mph, the enforced limit for all tractor-trailers in Germany.
The rumble of 1,991 lb-ft of torque
Finally arriving at the Malmsheim test track, it's our turn behind the wheel. Plopping down into the air-sprung driver seat, we decide to forego the dizzying array of seat adjustments that move you up, down, backward and forward, plus other buttons to cool or heat the seat or adjust the air in the seat cushions.
After a thorough explanation of the controls in a mix of German and English, Wolfgang gives us the go-ahead to twist the key. The enormous V8 chugs to life with a muted rumble, emanating from somewhere underneath us and far below our well-cushioned posterior.
Third gear in the 16-speed transmission is fine to get under way, since the trailer is empty. Letting the clutch out gently, we inch away and slowly begin to accelerate down the wide-open test track. Auto Bild, the German car magazine, clocked an Actros Black Edition to 50 mph in 17.8 seconds.
Acceleration is smooth and steady, and it's made all the easier by the 16-speed semiautomatic PowerShift transmission. You change gears via a chunky lever located on the right-hand armrest. With a dab of the surprisingly user-friendly clutch, we click the lever twice and end up in 5th gear before letting the clutch out again. With more than 1,900 lb-ft of torque available from the engine, stalling is not on the agenda. But let the clutch out too quickly and the Actros will chug and whir its disapproval.
For an 18,000-pound tractor-trailer rig, the Actros proves incredibly simple to drive. The steering does an accurate job of directing the 385/55R22.5 front tires exactly where you want them. One word of warning: While turning a corner, don't forget the big honking trailer behind you. In the midst of our first successfully maneuvered corner, we were whooping for joy when we realized the trailer's rear wheels were busy gobbling up orange safety cones on the inside of the turn. A few more laps of the test circuit — and some careful glances rearward — and we felt like a hero of the open road, ready to keep hauling to the horizon.
Supertruck to supercar
After these super-sized driving thrills, we nearly forgot that Mercedes has provided a supercar for us to drive, too. Parachuting down from the Actros' cabin, we hoof it to the SLR, scale the wide sills and settle into the snug sport seats.
With no time for ergonomic ponderings, we jab the glowing red starter button that's located under a cool little flap on the knob of the shift lever. While the Actros rumbles, the SLR absolutely roars. The exhaust note coming from the pipes in the rocker panel would not sound out of place on the starting grid for the Daytona 500. The gullwing doors shut with a solid ker-thunk, and we aim the pointy prow of the SLR toward the opposite end of the track.
A treacherous sprinkling of rain has us cautiously pressing the gas. After getting up to a steady 60 mph, we finally floor it. The 617-hp 5.5-liter supercharged V8 releases a frightening bellow. Three-digit speed arrives in a heartbeat. Slamming on the carbon-ceramic disc brakes, the ABS kicks in and the rear airbrake pops up.
During it all, the five-speed automatic transmission is seamless, blurring upshifts and offering delightful blips of the throttle during downshifts. The 575 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm might be dwarfed by the almighty Actros, but in the 3,734-pound SLR this is more than enough torque to keep you happy. Even with the traction control on, we were still able to kick out the tail on this carbon-fiber-bodied exotic before the electrical nannies politely hauled in our hooligan behavior.
The ultimate cruisers
The Actros Black Edition and SLR McLaren are poles apart in size and performance. Neither makes much sense, and that's the appeal.
The SLR is a performance powerhouse with mind-boggling acceleration and braking ability. Even though it's not the newest exotic car on the block anymore, the SLR still stands apart because it provides supercar thrills with a luxurious interior and then adds safety features that are welcome for real-world cruising.
But if it's cruising you want on a Love Boat scale, then the Actros Black Edition certainly fits the bill. Driving controls that don't require the strength of Hercules and that 317-gallon fuel tank mean this big brute can take you nonstop to most anywhere you want — so long as there are no bridges overhead that are lower than 12.3 feet above the ground.
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