Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive at the Paris Motor Show 2012. More importantly, this is no dreamy concept car; the SLS AMG Electric Drive is production ready and it’s the fastest Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ever.
Developed in-house by Mercedes-AMG GmbH and their F1 partners at Mercedes AMG in Brixworth, UK, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG features four synchronous electric motors with a combined maximum power of 552 kW and 1 000 Nm of torque. The SLS AMG Electric Drive will accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and up to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
The SLS AMG Electric Drive is permanent all-wheel drive supercar. Four permanent magnet synchronous electric motors, each weighing 45 kg, reach a maximum turning speed of 13 000 r/min with power from a 400-volt, liquid-cooled, 864-cell lithium-ion high-voltage battery.
Using the quick-charge function, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive takes just 3 hours to recharge; recharging at a normal wall socket increases that time to 20 hours.
The SLS AMG Electric Drive is not just about its high voltage, it also has an array of tasty high performance goodies to go with it. It features a carbon-fibre monocoque, bolted to an aluminium space-frame, a newly designed front axle with pushrod struts, a 40% lighter ceramic braking system and a more aerodynamic design. That new exterior colour is called ‘AMG electric-beam-magno’.
The SLS AMG Electric Drive weighs 500 kg more than a standard SLS AMG and the range is a claimed 250 km with a full charge. Mercedes-Benz say it will be a series production model, not just a limited edition.
We expect it to launch in Europe in early 2013 and the price should be around €416 500 or R5 million. Yikes! Going green and fast doesn’t come cheap.
