The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has become the only car to win a Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany in gold. This award is held in high esteem, because only products that have previously won a design award may be nominated to receive it.

The super sports car from Mercedes-Benz, of which the lines and distinctive gullwing doors recall the legendary 300 SL of the 1950s, faced some stiff competition. More than 1 500 products were entered for the design competition, a record number.

A highly qualified, independent jury, made up of representatives of industry, academia, design and the media, decided upon the recipients of the design award. Following a rigorous selection process, the jury ultimately awarded the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany 2011 in gold to 25 products. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was the only car to receive this top award.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS has already received numerous design awards from around the world, including the prestigious “red dot” design award. The “gullwing” model was also the winner of several large-scale reader surveys carried out by top motoring magazines. It is, however, not just the design of the super sports car that makes it stand out, but also its technology.

The list of highlights includes: aluminium spaceframe body, AMG 6.3 litre V8 front mid-engine with dry sump lubrication, 420 kW and 650 Nm of torque, 7-speed dual clutch transmission in transaxle configuration and a nimble double-wishbone aluminium sports suspension.

The German Design Award will be presented by the Federal Ministry of Econo-mics and Technology at a special public awards ceremony on 11 February 2011. The German Design Council is also arranging a design award exhibition at which all prize-winning products will be displayed.

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

Power transmission

Chassis and suspension

Dimensions and weights*

Performance and fuel consumption

Erectile Dysfunction

Adapted from AutoExpress