Mercedes-Benz is allegedly birthing a Porsche 911 fighter. Aren’t they all? It’s possibly going to be called the Mercedes-Benz SLC, and the Stuttgart manufacturer sees it as a smaller, nimbler and less expensive machine than the big SLS AMG Gullwing. It’s not just fruity speculation. Last year, both Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche and head of design, Gorden Wagener, confirmed rumours about a new front-engined, rear-wheel drive, compact supercar that would be named the SLC.
The vehicle which we will call the SLC for now has been seen orbiting the Nurburgring and word on the street is that it might use a smaller AMG-developed V6 engine, with an option for a V8. That sounds positively Jaguar F-Type-like now doesn’t it? The C190 is its internal chassis code and it could have a starting price of around £70 000 (less than R1 million).
The C190 chassis makes use of an updated version of the SLS Gullwing’s aluminium space frame which is “highly flexible and can be easily modified for length, width, height, bodystyle, and wheelbase,” say Mercedes-Benz. The SLC will retain the same basic proportions with a long hood and cabin moved towards the rear, and will also retain the transaxle configuration.
Like the SLS, it is unknown if the SLC will don the iconic gullwing doors of its bigger uncle. Doing so will certainly enhance body stiffness but will also add weight. Unladen weight is expected to be about 155 kg heavier than a Porsche 911 Carrera S. Engine wise; the base V6 model will produce around 250 kW from 3.0-litre displacement.
Speculation says a base V8 could be a twin-turbo 4.0-litre unit with 360 kW and 650 Nm of torque. Finally a top-dog 5.5-litre V8 S bumps power up to 435 kW and 750 Nm of torque. This SLC S could also come with special bucket seats, carbon ceramic brakes, and a rorty exhaust system. As will AMG / Sport packages for the 911-fighter. So, the SLC or a Porsche 911 Turbo S or a Jaguar F-Type? Let’s expect it in 2015 shall we? Then we can decide.
