The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a luxury grand tourer automobile developed by Mercedes-AMG to replace the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. 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.

The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 IAA. Sales began in mid-2010 in Europe with MSRP of €177,310 (including taxes)and in the United States in mid-2011 for less than $200,000. The SLS AMG is featured as the cover car for the PlayStation 3 racing game Gran tourism, and is the safety car for the 2010 and 2011 Formula One seasons.

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."

Design

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.In case of a roll-over, the doors can be fully detached to allow the occupants to leave the vehicle.

 Versions

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).

Specifications

 Data

• Wheelbase: 105.5 in (2680 mm)
• Length 182.6 in (4638 mm)
• Width 76.3 in (1939 mm)
• Height 49.7 in (1262 mm)
• Rims: 9.50 × 19 in (front), 11 × 20 in (rear), forged aluminium
• Tyres: 265/35 R 19 (front), 295/30 R 20 (rear)
• Kerb Weight: 3562.48 lb (1620 kg)
• Power-to-weight ratio: 348 bhp/tonne
• Weight-to-power ratio: 2.78 kg (6.1 lb)/ 1 PS (0.74 kW)

 Engine

• M 159, liquid-cooled V8 Four-stroke engine, cylinder bank angle 90°
• Four valves/cylinder, DOHC
• Forged and balanced crankshaft
• Forged pistons
• Two 74 mm (2.91 in) throttles
• Bosch ME 9.7 ECU, electronic fuel injection
• Tubular steel exhaust headers
• Bore x stroke: 102.2 mm (4.02 in) × 94.6 mm (3.72 in)
• Displacement: 378.835 cu in (6.20799 L)
• Power: 571 PS (420 kW; 563 hp) at 6800 rpm
• Power per litre: 92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp)
• Torque: 650 N·m (480 lb·ft) at 4750 rpm
• Torque per litre: 104.7 N·m (77.2 lb·ft)
• Max. 7200 rpm
• Engine lubrication: dry sump
• Weight: 206 kg (450 lb)

Transmission

Standard transmission is AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission through a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft in a transaxle arrangement.Selectable driving modes include "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual). A true manual transmission is not available.

Brakes

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.

 Environment

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).

 Performance

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). In a Car and Driver test, the SLS recorded a quarter mile time of 11.7 seconds @ 125 mph (201 km/h).

 Safety

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.

 Exterior

The exterior aluminum body is supplied by Magna Steyr. 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.