The Mercedes-Benz SLC AMG was just a rumour back in 2011 when Christoph Jung, development director of performance division AMG, revealed: “There is room for an AMG model below the SLS, targeting the Porsche 911. This is the next market for AMG and we are considering what is the right package.” Well it seems that AMG are moving rather quickly on development of their new sports car, as these spy shots indicate.
The SLC AMG, the name of which was recently confirmed by Mercedes-Benz design boss Gorden Wagener, will compete more directly against the Porsche 911 and the future Jaguar F-Type.
Disguised with the body panels of the SLS AMG supercar, the Mercedes SLC will be roughly 150 mm shorter than its big brother, riding on a more compact platform and sporting a shorter front overhang. The SLC Coupe will trade the SLS AMG’s gullwing doors for conventional fixtures, reducing development and production costs and making it easier for manufacturer to create the soft-top SLC Roadster, which is expected to follow the 2014 debut of the coupe in 2016.
The SLC’s powertrain details remain a mystery at this stage. Some international reports have suggested it will come standard with a V8, ranging in size from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre to a naturally aspirated 5.5-litre, while others believe Mercedes will offer a budget version with a less powerful, but more fuel efficient V6.
UPDATE – 14 June ’12: Latest info has revealed that what you see here is in fact the upcoming SLS AMG Black Series and NOT a prototype SLC AMG as initial reports suggested. Under the bonnet, the SLS Black Series is likely to be powered by a more than 450 kW, 6.2-litre, V8 powerplant, capable of 0 – 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 322 km/h. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series should make its debut later in 2012.
