RE: World Premiere: SLS AMG Gullwing Coupe
Thursday 10th September 2009
Following yesterday's leaked images of the new Merc SLS supercar, Mercedes-Benz has released the official tech specs and this glorious picture gallery of its new SLS AMG in advance of its debut at Frankfurt next week. We tried to wipe most of the drool off before we posted them, but apologies if we missed any...
With an all-up weight of 1620kgs, we can expect monster performance to match the stunning looks - Merc claims a 3.8sec 0-62mph sprint and an electronically limited maximum of 197mph.
World Premiere: SLS AMG Gullwing Coupe
Stunning gallery and tech specs for Merc's new sporting flagship
M-B has also released a lengthy document detailing the car's many attributes, which include a 571hp front-mounted 6.3 litre AMG V8, a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle gearbox, all alloy spaceframe body with gullwing doors, and double wishbone suspension all round.
The car goes on sale in the UK next year and prices/specs will be released closer to the launch, says the company.
Meanwhile there's loads more info about this spectacular new car in the press release, but as I think I need to go and lie down for a few minutes you'll need to click here to read all the official blurb. (The press release opens in a new window so you can read it while looking at the piccies!)
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Discussion
This car could be stunning, but doesn't quite do it.
The nose is lovely, but doesn't gel with the rest of the design. There seem to be a lot of different design ideas going on. I can't help seeing design cues from the Crossfire and Honda S2000.
I especially dislike the C-pillar, but maybe they are required because of the gullwing doors, but they could at least have wrapped the rear window round onto the c-pillars a bit (or made it smaller and put small quarter-lights in there. I can't get past the feeling they've decided to use gullwing doors and then had to make styleing sacrifices to enable them to happen.
The interior is very bland and nothing to get excited about. In a car worth this much money I would be disappointed getting into it seeing an interior no better than an SLK.
Maybe the drive sets it apart, but I doubt it.
The nose is lovely, but doesn't gel with the rest of the design. There seem to be a lot of different design ideas going on. I can't help seeing design cues from the Crossfire and Honda S2000.
I especially dislike the C-pillar, but maybe they are required because of the gullwing doors, but they could at least have wrapped the rear window round onto the c-pillars a bit (or made it smaller and put small quarter-lights in there. I can't get past the feeling they've decided to use gullwing doors and then had to make styleing sacrifices to enable them to happen.
The interior is very bland and nothing to get excited about. In a car worth this much money I would be disappointed getting into it seeing an interior no better than an SLK.
Maybe the drive sets it apart, but I doubt it.
Please no, that is hideous!
What spanners are left designing cars these days?
Bangle was genius with his 'odd' looks, but that just isn't cohesive for all it's ugliness. If it was ugly as a whole I wouldn't mind, but it's got a smooth sleek arse, challenging curved roof (not smooth or sleek, but nice in isolation), and then a totally random blob of all kinds of crap going on at the front.
It's like they had four designers do an end each, side, and roof, and then melted them together.
Grim!
Dave
What spanners are left designing cars these days?
Bangle was genius with his 'odd' looks, but that just isn't cohesive for all it's ugliness. If it was ugly as a whole I wouldn't mind, but it's got a smooth sleek arse, challenging curved roof (not smooth or sleek, but nice in isolation), and then a totally random blob of all kinds of crap going on at the front.
It's like they had four designers do an end each, side, and roof, and then melted them together.
Grim!
Dave
Aside from the c-pillar design, which I think is a bit heavy-handed, this car looks fantastic and very distinctive.
I'd say it's handsome rather than beautiful, but it also harks back to an iconic Merc design, escpecially around the front end. In the same way as contemporary Astons successfully wear the clothes of eraly DB models, so this designs works for Mercedes.
Personally, I think it makes the McMerc look pretty s
t attempt at a similar job - of recreating the great gullwing.
Incidentally, anyone remotely interested in classic and sports cars and escpecially 50's Merc needs to see this in Dusseldorf: Meilenwerk. http://www.meilenwerk.de/Meilenwerk_Duesseldorf_in...
I'd say it's handsome rather than beautiful, but it also harks back to an iconic Merc design, escpecially around the front end. In the same way as contemporary Astons successfully wear the clothes of eraly DB models, so this designs works for Mercedes.
Personally, I think it makes the McMerc look pretty s
t attempt at a similar job - of recreating the great gullwing.Incidentally, anyone remotely interested in classic and sports cars and escpecially 50's Merc needs to see this in Dusseldorf: Meilenwerk. http://www.meilenwerk.de/Meilenwerk_Duesseldorf_in...
Digga said:
Aside from the c-pillar design, which I think is a bit heavy-handed, this car looks fantastic and very distinctive.
I'd say it's handsome rather than beautiful, but it also harks back to an iconic Merc design, escpecially around the front end. In the same way as contemporary Astons successfully wear the clothes of eraly DB models, so this designs works for Mercedes.
Personally, I think it makes the McMerc look pretty st attempt at a similar job - of recreating the great gullwing.
Incidentally, anyone remotely interested in classic and sports cars and escpecially 50's Merc needs to see this in Dusseldorf: Meilenwerk. http://www.meilenwerk.de/Meilenwerk_Duesseldorf_in...
about a mile from my house I'd say it's handsome rather than beautiful, but it also harks back to an iconic Merc design, escpecially around the front end. In the same way as contemporary Astons successfully wear the clothes of eraly DB models, so this designs works for Mercedes.
Personally, I think it makes the McMerc look pretty s
t attempt at a similar job - of recreating the great gullwing.Incidentally, anyone remotely interested in classic and sports cars and escpecially 50's Merc needs to see this in Dusseldorf: Meilenwerk. http://www.meilenwerk.de/Meilenwerk_Duesseldorf_in...
i love this car btw, some quirky bits but overall it looks good
Edited by hugo a gogo on Thursday 10th September 11:11
I love the exterior, its a fantastic looking car. But once again, the interior is letting it down. For something that looks so different and striking, the interior, even in the red leather just looks dull and samey. The SLR interior wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but it looks better than this does.
If you're going to be driving something that stunning, at least give the customer something equally as pleasant to look at whilst they're in it.
If you're going to be driving something that stunning, at least give the customer something equally as pleasant to look at whilst they're in it.
Seems wonderful in almost every way, apart from a few details, but they still don't understand it should have a proper gearbox.
They just can't understand a sportscar (not a pseudo-racecar like e.g. Ferrari 458) should ALWAYS have a manual gearbox.
(Or at least have it available...)
And for the interior, Mercedes will probably use plastic again, just like a playstation... which is really not done in car that will be in such a price range.
I suppose those germans have never seen what an Aston or so looks like on the inside.
They just can't understand a sportscar (not a pseudo-racecar like e.g. Ferrari 458) should ALWAYS have a manual gearbox.
(Or at least have it available...)
And for the interior, Mercedes will probably use plastic again, just like a playstation... which is really not done in car that will be in such a price range.
I suppose those germans have never seen what an Aston or so looks like on the inside.
Edited by 71tuscan on Thursday 10th September 11:26
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