Friday 21st September 2012

£300k all-electric SLS only months away

AMG boss says SLS E-Cell is first in a series of eco-AMGs

---

Mercedes will reveal the production version of its SLS AMG E-Cell at the Paris motor show at the end of the month with a price tag expected to be around £300,000 - almost double the ‘regular’ petrol-powered SLS AMG coupe.

Confirming the all-electric SLS will go on sale to the (very wealthy) public, AMG boss Ola Kallenius said first deliveries would arrive at the start of 2013.

Big performance, or up to 130 miles

The SLS E-Cell, first seen as a running concept in mid-2010, will have a limited world-wide production run of just “a few hundred”, according to a Mercedes insider. The production version is also expected to match the performance figures of the concept, namely 530hp, 0-62mph in 4 seconds, 0-125mph in 11 seconds and a top speed limited to 155mph. The talk is of 60kWh lithium-ion batteries providing up to 130 miles range, and a one-hour fast-charging capability from zero to 100%.

Speaking exclusively to PistonHeads at the Moscow motor show last week, Kallenius said AMG was working on a host of eco-technologies that would reduce the emissions from its vehicles, including hybrids and full EVs.

“CO2 targets are going down," he said. "AMG’s aim is to be the most efficient in class for horsepower and torque. For example, the SLK has 420hp and does 8.4l/100km (33.4mpg).Not only is it the most powerful in its class, it's also the most efficient.” he said.

SLS E-Cell set to scoop Audi's e-tron

Kallenius said AMG was working on a range of technologies to bring emissions figures down including “cylinder deactivation, charging, downsizing, direct injection, spray-guided piezo injectors, weight reduction… we’re working on all of these, it’s not something we do on the side, it’s part of the way we work.”

[Carnnoisseur]

Hardly an incentive to walk away from the petrol variants, 100% more? I'd rather Puchase the petrol SLS 63 and bank the change. £10k would ease my conscience with a used Prius. Jokers!!!

[Gary C]

Until generation of electricity is from carbon free sources, all these electrical vehicles just move the emmisions to another place.

Pointless

[chrisironside]

I think if Mercedes wanted people use use electric they would offer better incentives. This appears like more of an excerise in raking in money whilst appearing socially aware.

1 hour charge from empty to full is very impressive though!

[MrTappets]

I know I don't get out much, but seriously, it's exciting to think just how good electric powertrains will be in 10-20 years time. I'm sure even five years ago we had nothing like what's being offered now.

[Harry H]

Who on earth would buy such a thing. You could buy the normal version and have £150k to spend on petrol. Even at 15mpg that's getting on for 350,000 miles worth.

[Blackpuddin]

MrTappets said:

I know I don't get out much, but seriously, it's exciting to think just how good electric powertrains will be in 10-20 years time. I'm sure even five years ago we had nothing like what's being offered now.

The amount of effort being pumped into it by the big players tells you all you need to know about the future of electric motoring. It's a commercial certainty.

[kambites]

There's always going to be some early adopters willing to pay the premium. If it means more money put into battery research, sounds great.

[EggsBenedict]

Don't knock electric vehicles, it just means more petrol left over for us real men. (to paraphrase the doctor in black adder)

[Gary C]

Blackpuddin said:

The amount of effort being pumped into it by the big players tells you all you need to know about the future of electric motoring. It's a commercial certainty.

Its all good news for my industry but I dont think its a done deal yet.

[Earl'Dingleberry]

Electric cars are for tree-hugging hippies.

[thinfourth2]

How do they expect a poor family who can't afford a house with a driveway and only have 1 car to survive with this 300K car


Its just stupid

[Harry H]

What about the noise. An AMG V8 on full chat is 50% of the reason to buy one. With out that it'd be like sitting on a train.

[k-ink]

The first mobile phones were rather useless, huge and crazily expensive. Electric cars will be the same, for at least a decade more.

[ewilson]

PETROL ALL THE WAY V6, V8, V12

[Earl'Dingleberry]

Harry H said:

What about the noise. An AMG V8 on full chat is 50% of the reason to buy one. With out that it'd be like sitting on a train.

You will get a USB stick with the "Best of V8 Sound" collection you can play on the B&O sound system.

[MyCC]

With the flood of future electric vehicles I do wonder how manufacturers will differentiate their cars in terms of driveability? I can only think that different cars will have different sized electrical power units but once you've felt the 'surge' of acceleration, surely it will all be the same no matter what car you're in?!

Regards,

MyCC.

[Stingercut]

Gary C said:

Until generation of electricity is from carbon free sources, all these electrical vehicles just move the emmisions to another place.

Pointless

And there speaks a man of reason.... We are probably 30yrs + away from a revolutionary power source for vehicles. Who knows by then, maybe those without a vested interest in the man made climate change bandwagon will face up to empiracle evidence showing climate change is driven almost entirely by the forces of nature, beyond mans control.

[Matt UK]

Harry H said:

Who on earth would buy such a thing. You could buy the normal version and have £150k to spend on petrol. Even at 15mpg that's getting on for 350,000 miles worth.

Neither the buyers of this version or the normal V8 verion have any real notion regarding the cost of MPG.

[dublet]

What's wrong with (most of) you guys? Electric engines are far superior to petrol engines in their power delivery and efficiency. I'd love to have one of these all electric cars and if someone with a spare £300k wants to buy one of these, great. It will mean the rest of us will get better batteries down the line.

I bet you lot stem from the same people who said the petrol engine was rubbish as it was far too noisy and who in their right minds would strap a tank full of explosives to their car? And while we're at it, this whole car thing will never take off, can't even take them across a rough forest unlike your trusty steed.

[PaulMoor]

Gary C said:

Until generation of electricity is from carbon free sources, all these electrical vehicles just move the emmisions to another place.

Pointless

Ye, apart from the fact that power stations are far more efficient than a car at producing energy from fuel. Now, if you want to talk about batterys and the damage they do, that is a different question.