| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
|---|---|
| Production | 2010–present |
| Model years | 2011– |
| Assembly | Sindelfingen, Germany |
| Predecessor | Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Mercedes-Benz 300SL |
| Class | Supercar and GT |
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, Transaxle |
| Engine | 6.3L, V8, DOHC 563 bhp |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2,680 mm (106 in) |
| Length | 4,638 mm (182.6 in) |
| Width | 1,939 mm (76.3 in) |
| Height | 1,262 mm (49.7 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,620 kg (3,600 lb) |
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a luxury grand tourer automobile developed by Mercedes-AMG to replace the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.[1] The car is the first Mercedes automobile designed in-house by AMG and is described by Mercedes-Benz as a spiritual successor to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.[2]
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 IAA. Sales began in mid-2010 in Europe with MSRP of €177,310 (including taxes)[3] and in the United States in mid-2011 for less than $200,000.[4] The SLS AMG is featured as the cover car for the PlayStation 3 racing game Gran Turismo 5, and is the safety car for the 2010 and 2011 Formula One seasons.[5]
In the video game Forza Motorsport 4, Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear comments "This is not just the greatest car Mercedes makes; right now, I think, it's the greatest car in the world."
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The SLS AMG is designed to be a modern 300SL Gullwing revival by Gorden Wagener. The car has a long bonnet, the passenger compartment is close to the rear axle and the rear of the car is short. The SLS AMG has also adapted the feature of wing doors that will swing open upwards on gas struts, not in a mix of upwards and forward like the SLR. The doors must be closed manually as AMG engineers decided against auto-closing systems because the systems would have added 90 pounds (41 kg) to the car.[4] In case of a roll-over, the doors can be fully detached to allow the occupants to leave the vehicle.
The SLS AMG will be made in at least four different versions. The first to launch is the coupe with gullwing doors. In 2009 a Desert Gold version debuted at the Dubai International Auto Show, in mid-2010 a FIA-GT3 racing version. For 2011–2013 Mercedes will also be releasing a roadster (with conventional doors and a soft top), an electric powered E-Cell version (most likely to be a coupe), and there will be a Black Series version, which will see its weight being reduced by as much as 300 kg (661 lb).
A GT3-spec racing version of the SLS AMG was unveiled at the 2010 New York Auto Show. It is set to compete in national GT3 championships before being allowed race in the FIA GT3 Championship in 2011.[6] At VLN Nürburgring, the SLS AMG GT3 was admitted into the SP9 class with "Balance of Performance" set to 1350 kg and 556 PS,[7] and won its first race in October.[8]
25 SLS AMG GT3's were built for competition with only one not racing in Europe. Erebus Racing who race in the Australian GT Championship run the car which is driven by Peter Hackett who is also the Chief Instructor at the Australian Mercedes Benz Driving Academy.[9]
The SLS AMG "Blackbird" was a unique, special edition SLS AMG created by Mercedes-Benz's Australian subsidiary specifically for the 2010 Australian International Motor Show. The one-off vehicle was eventually sold to a private customer from Singapore.[10]
The SLS AMG E-Cell is planned for model year 2013 and will use all-electric powertrain components. It will include four electric motors (one on each wheel) with combined ratings of 392 kW (525 bhp) and 880 N·m (650 lb·ft), liquid-cooled 400V lithium-ion battery rated 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The battery will be supplied by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG.[11][12] Mercedes-Benz anticipates selling the vehicle beginning in late 2012.[13]
The SLS AMG Roadster was unveiled by Mercedes-Benz via press release on May 5, 2011. It retains the same specifications, dimensions and drivetrain as the Coupe but is a more traditional convertible with a power folding fabric top and conventional doors.[14]
Standard transmission is AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission through a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft in a transaxle arrangement.[2] Selectable driving modes include "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual).[15] A true manual transmission is not available.
Standard brakes are 390 mm (15.35 in) (front) and 360 mm (14.17 in) (rear) cast iron disc brakes with 6-piston aluminium (front) and 4-piston (rear) calipers. Optional on the SLS AMG are carbon-ceramic disc brakes. 402 mm (15.83 in) discs with 6-piston aluminium calipers (front) and 360 mm (14.17 in) discs with 4-piston calipers (rear). These brakes provide increased stopping power with a 40% weight reduction compared to the standard brake system.[2]
The fuel consumption of the SLS AMG is around 13 L/100 km (22 mpg-imp; 18 mpg-US) combined driving according to (NEDC, provisional figure).[2]
The SLS AMG is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds, and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 197 mph (317 km/h) (figures are provisional).[16] In a Car and Driver test, the SLS recorded a quarter mile time of 11.7 seconds @ 125 mph (201 km/h).[17]
In the July 2010 issue of Car and Driver magazine, safety specifications were revealed pertaining to the safety of the SLS AMG's gullwing doors. Ten to fifteen milliseconds after a detected rollover, explosive bolts situated at the top of the door frame fire and bell cranks separate the doors from the car for easy exit during a serious accident. An anti-locking system and a 3-stage ESP are standard.
The exterior aluminum body is supplied by Magna Steyr.[18] This and the CL65 AMG 40th Anniversary Edition are the only roadgoing Mercedes-Benz with the AMG Alubeam Silver paint available, at an extra cost of €11,900 in Germany. Other colors include both metallic as matte colors, such as Designo Magno Kashmir, the matte paint known from the SL63 AMG IWC edition.
The SLS AMG has a rearwing which will pop up at high speeds for stability and handling, and when braking.
On September 20, 2011, AMG director Tobias Moers announced that they will be launching a 'Black Series' version of the SLS. "We absolutely have to do a Black Series" he said, giving no more additional information. Previous reports of the car have speculated the SLS AMG Black to have a revised 6.3-liter (6,208cc) V8 engine with approximately 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 677 Nm (499 lb-ft) of torque.
Moers also said the SLS AMG GT3 won't be coming to America and the company hasn't decided if the 2013 SLS AMG E-Cell will make the transatlantic trip either.