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Sls Amg Gullwing

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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

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

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

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*

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

Top speed km/h 317***
Fuel consumption NEDC comb. l/100 km 13.2
CO2 emissions g/km 314