2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Australian Pricing Revealed, Nearly 50 Sold Already

MERCEDES-BENZ has today revealed Australian pricing for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, first unveiled at Frankfurt last year.

Priced at $464,000, Mercedes-Benz Australia has already sold more than forty examples of the retro-styled supercar, with deliveries due to begin in August.

“Despite the fact that the first customer cars have not yet arrived and with deliveries not expected until August the order book is filling fast," Horst von Sanden, Mercedes-Benz Australia Managing Director said.

“Given the impressive demand we are experiencing for this special car our stock allocation for 2010 could well be insufficient.”

Performance numbers have been known for a while; with 420kW of power and a stout 650Nm of torque, the SLS AMG is blisteringly quick. The 0-100km/h run is dispatched in just 3.8 seconds and top speed is electronically limted to 317km/h.

A seven-speed twin-clutch Speedshift DCT transaxle is mounted between the rear wheels and linked to the 6.2 litre V8 via a carbon fibre drive shaft. A mechanical limited-slip diffential is integrated into the transaxle to maintain traction during hard launches.

The rear-mounted gearbox and the engine mounted aft of the front wheels produces a rear-biased weight distribution of 47-53 front to rear.

Combined with the SLS's all-alloy double-wishbone front and rear suspension, and sizable 265/35R19 rubber on the front and 295/30R20 tyres on the rear, the SLS should boast a high level of agility.

It will also be able to stop as fast as it accelerates. Motorsport-style carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, and feature six-piston calipers clamping 390mm rotors up front and 360mm rotors paired with four-piston calipers at the rear.

Fuel consumption is also one of the SLS's strong suits. Despite its massive engine and prodigious power output, average fuel consumption on the European combined cycle is an admirable (for a supercar) 13.2 l/100km.

The SLS AMG's 1620kg kerb weight plays a key part in keeping fuel economy up, and the car's aluminium chassis - despite being tremendously rigid - weighs just 241kg by itself.

NOTE: Price is Manufacturer's List Price only and includes LCT and GST, but does not include dealer delivery and on-road costs.