A handful of images were leaked onto the web last week, but now Mercedes has released all the details and a full set of images of its all-new supercar, before its world premiere in Frankfurt.
Designed to evoke memories of the iconic 300SL Gullwing from the Fifties, the Mercedes SLS AMG also fills a gap in Merc’s range left by the outgoing McLaren SLR. And judging by these detailed photos its styling promises to be every bit as dramatic as its forebearers.
Gullwing-style doors, hinged at the roof, will no doubt be the big talking point, but what’s under the skin is just as impressive. Packing a 420 kW AMG 6,3-litre dry-sumped V8 with 650 N.m of torque, it’s capable of covering the zero to 100 km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds and continuing on to a limited top speed of 317 km/h. Fortunately carbon-ceramic brake discs will be offered as an option to scrub off the speed with ease.
An aluminium space-frame body helps to keep weight down to a manageable 1 620 kg. Combine this with the latest seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a near-perfect 47:53 front-rear weight distribution and the front-engined Merc should be as good to drive as it’s on-paper figures suggest.
It’s not just the Gullwing doors that link this car to it’s predecessor from the Fifties. The elongated bonnet, extra-wide grille and oversize three-point star are all reminiscent of the legendary 300SL. But modern touches like the extendable rear spoiler (which deploys above 120 km/h for added downforce), LED running lights and unique alloys (20-inch at the rear, 19-inch at the front) ensure a classic design is brought up to date.
Climb inside the compact passenger compartment and you’re greeted by jet-engine inspired air vents. The silver instrument cluster features F1-style LED shift lights and the speedometer runs all the way to 360 km/h, while taking pride of place on the centre console is the seven-inch multi-media screen. Finest-quality materials are used throughout the cabin, and nowhere is this more perfectly demonstrated than with the magnesium-backed sports seats – a metal that’s particularly strong and light.
Prices are likely to start from around GBP130 000 when it goes on sale in summer 2010 – less than half the price of the Mercedes McLaren SLR.
Engine
| No. of cylinders/arrangement | 8/V, 4 valves per cylinder | |
| Displacement | cc | 6208 |
| Bore x stroke | mm | 102.2 x 94.6 |
| Rated power output | kW | 420 at 6800 rpm |
| Rated torque | Nm | 650 at 4750 rpm |
| Compression ratio | 11.3 : 1 | |
| Mixture preparation | Microprocessor-controlled fuel injection, HFM |
Power transmission
| Drive | Standard drive | |
| Transmissions | AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission | |
| Ratios | Final drive 1st gear 2nd gear 3rd gear 4th gear 5th gear 6th gear 7th gear Reverse |
3.67 3.40 2.19 1.63 1.29 1.03 0.84 0.72 -2.79 |
Chassis and suspension
| Front axle | Aluminium double wishbone suspension, anti-dive, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, stabiliser |
| Rear axle | Aluminium double wishbone suspension, anti-squat and anti-dive systems, coil springs, gas-filled shock absorbers, stabiliser |
| Braking system | Composite disc brakes, internally ventilated and perforated at the front; disc brakes, internally ventilated and perforated at the rear; electric rear parking brake; ABS; Brake Assist; 3-stage ESP® |
| Steering | Rack-and-pinion power steering with parameter function, steering damper |
| Wheels | Front: 9.5 J x 19; rear: 11 J x 20 |
| Tyres | Front: 265/35 R 19; rear: 295/30 R 20 |
Dimensions and weights*
| Wheelbase | mm | 2680 |
| Tread front/rear | mm | 1682/1653 |
| Overall length | mm | 4638 |
| Overall width | mm | 1939 |
| Overall height | mm | 1262 |
| Turning circle | m | 11.9 |
| Boot capacity** | l | 176 |
| Kerb weight acc. to DIN | kg | 1620 |
| Payload (basis ready-to-drive according to EC) | kg | 240 |
| Perm. gross vehicle weight | kg | 1935 |
| Tank capacity/inc. reserve | l | 85/14 |
Performance and fuel consumption
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h | s | 3.8 |
| Top speed | km/h | 317*** |
| Fuel consumption NEDC comb. | l/100 km | 13.2 |
| CO2 emissions | g/km | 314 |
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