Mercedes finally introduced its incredible super sports car, the SLS AMG, the new ultimate sports machine in a modern-day take on the classic Gullwing of the 1950s. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG embodies a blend of consummate automotive fascination, high tech and uses aluminum body draped over an aluminum spaceframe chassis, which is a first for Mercedes-Benz. Delivers a compelling mix of purist styling, consistent lightweight design and superior driving dynamics, the new ‘Gullwing’ offers the ideal synthesis of the strengths of Mercedes-Benz and AMG. This car is so well developed it is going to give Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche a big fright.
The most distinctive aspect of the SLS’s appearance is the roof-hinged gullwing doors, an homage to the iconic 300SL Gullwing. Inspired by the 300SL coupe of the 1950s, the new SLS also has the bobbed tail, the football-shaped grille, and the bottom-mounted door handles of the original. The entire SLS is constructed of aluminum; the space frame weighs just 530 pounds. The concave inner panels of the gullwing doors, the high beltline and the powerful side sill panels round off the cockpit-like impression, while imparting a feeling of sports car-like ergonomics.
The upper part of the dashboard is simple in style, carrying just the monitor for the entertainment system and satellite navigation. All controls are concentrated along the wide center console. Some of the switchgear is from other Mercedes-Benz models, but there are also unique details such as the air vents. It’s a luxurious driving environment, full of leather and aluminum. Carbon fiber trim is optional. A safety highlight: the doors have pyrotechnic elements that separate them from the body in the case of a rollover.
A powerful eight-cylinder engine manufactured by Mercedes-AMG forms the heart of the new SLS. The fine-tuned 6.3-litre V8 engine develops 420 kW/571 hp at 6800 rpm, turning the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG into one of the most powerful sports cars in its segment. A power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp comes courtesy of the low vehicle weight. The naturally aspirated engine delivers maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. The ‘Gullwing’ accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, before going on to a top speed electronically limited to 317 km/h (all figures are provisional). Bearing the internal designation M 159, the V8 high-revving engine with its displacement of 6208 cubic centimetres has been thoroughly reengineered compared with the M 156 entry-level engine and boasts all the hallmarks of powerful racing engines.
Source: Cars
