BMW has long been associated with motor-sport, its BM1 division devoted to creating cars that can outperform and outlast their competitors while sticking to the designs that have made BMW one of the most sought after cars in the middle class, prestige market. Rival Mercedes Benz has a much longer history in building sporty motor cars. Their SL Black series is an answer to BMW's M series, with an impressive 660 horsepower engine, as well as the usual luxury standards customers expect of a 'Merc'. Other car manufacturers who have featured prominently in motorsport are Ferrari, Maserati and Porsche.