2010 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG
The Gullwing returns.
The unloved Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is just now ending its production run, and Mercedes is looking inward for its successor. McLaren is out; instead, in-house tuner AMG is developing the next supercar, the SLS AMG, a modern take on the classic Gullwing of the 1950s.
With the SLS, AMG for the first time ever is responsible for the development of an entire vehicle, and the Gullwing is an ambitious, ground-up effort. The car uses an aluminum spaceframe and body-skin construction, a first for Mercedes-Benz. The target curb weight is 3571 pounds (1620 kilograms). And, of course, the two-seater will use the characteristic gull-wing doors made famous by the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL.
The new car is powered by AMG's 6.2-liter V-8, located behind the front axle. AMG claims that the handbuilt engines have more than 120 new parts, including the crankshaft, dry sump, and intake and exhaust systems. At 454 pounds, the engine is also lighter, due in part to the use of aluminum instead of steel for some bolts and a magnesium intake manifold. Dry-sump lubrication allows the engine to be mounted lower in the chassis. Output is 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.
The power is transferred to a rear-mounted, seven-speed dual- clutch transaxle via a carbon-fiber driveshaft enclosed within an aluminum torque tube. Moving the transmission rearward helped achieve 48/52 front/rear weight distribution. The chassis uses aluminum control arms at all four wheels and carbon-ceramic composite brakes with optional gold-painted calipers. Massive, 265/35YR-19 front and 295/30YR-20 rear Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires provide the grip - as much as 1.2 g's in lateral acceleration.
AMG is predicting a 3.8-second 0-to-62-mph dash, 0 to 124 mph in less than twelve seconds, and a Nrburgring lap time of "well under" eight minutes. The top speed is electronically limited to 196 mph. Oh, and the fuel economy rating is 18 mpg combined (on the European cycle), as if any buyers will care.
FOR ALL EYES TO SEE: Look for the SLS AMG to shed its camouflage at the Frankfurt auto show this fall and to wing its way into Mercedes-Benz dealerships in April 2010. The price should be about half that of the SLR: approximately $250,000. ...next page >>