PHOTOGRAPHS OF MERCEDES-BENZ’S highly-anticipated SLS AMG have surfaced online, roughly a week ahead of its official unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The spiritual descendant of the classic 1950s-era 300SL and the successor to the McLaren-Mercedes SLR, the SLS combines the best technology available from Mercedes-Benz’s in-house tuner AMG with a healthy dose of retro-style glamour.
The car’s long-bonneted proportions and distinctive roof-hinged gullwing doors are an obvious tip of the hat to the 300SL of yore, as are the straked bonnet vents, shark-like gills on the fenders and that gaping, wide-mouthed grille.
The SLS’s rump, on the other hand, is more conventional, and boasts a cleaner, sleeker and more modern shape.
Interior styling elements are also a homage to the 300SL, with key features being an upright dashboard and gimball-mount air vents.
Power will be provided by a front-mid mounted 6.2 litre AMG-tuned V8 engine, which will churn out 420 kilowatts of power and 650 Newton-metres of torque.
The V8’s output will be channeled through a seven-speed twin-clutch transaxle, mounted in the back to help bring weight distribution to 48-52 front to rear.
An aluminium spaceframe chassis and the extensive use of lightweight components reins kerb weight in to just over 1600kg - around 140kg less than the SLR.
Performance is expected to be supercar-quick, and the 0-100km/h sprint is claimed to be done away with in just 3.8 seconds. Top speed? In excess of 310km/h.
Motorsport-style carbon-ceramic brakes are to be standard, and will feature six-piston calipers clamping 390mm rotors up front and 360mm rotors paired with four-piston calipers at the rear.
A range of performance-enhancing options will be offered as well, options like a carbon-fibre bonnet, sports bucket seats, forged 10-spoke wheels and a track-oriented suspension package.
European pricing is believed to start at around €177,310 (AU$298,900) when it arrives in German showrooms early next year.
More details will be released at the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG’s official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 15.
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This is great, i love it, not sure RHD is on the program though…:-(
But i have one issue, ALWAYS concerned with this type of top opening door if you roof-it, ie roll over, will it lift the car up [will it even work if damaged?] so you can get out of the car or do you
burn up if it catches fire like lots of accidents do?
Cheers
F-0
/swoon
Bleh, I’ll take the SLR instead thanks.
Sorry, but for a serious sports car, this is boring. There are a few retro inspired cars that work really well,i.e camaro, mustang and Ford GT. This misses the mark.
Looks like the front was designed by Nissan, while the back designed by Mazda.
I love the look despite it being a tad underwhelming. The massive front mouth with their signature grill, and that long bonnet. Makes it look like it’s all engine.