Tuesday 27th July 2010

Mercedes SLS AMG Gets Hamann Treatment

Monster Mercedes succumbs to the inevitable tweakery. Oh dear...

---

It doesn't matter how performance-focused the car, how high the price tag, or how many billions of pounds a company pours in to the development of a model - a tuning firm with a tiny budget will come along and try to make it 'better'.

Latest for 'improvement' is the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (which, we seem to remember, was pretty damn good in the first place). German tuning company Hamann - better known for making BMWs of dubious taste - has tacked on its first off-the-peg extras to the SLS AMG.

First up are a set of 'Design Edition Race Anodized' alloys (whatever that means). These matt black monsters are attached the car via titanium bolts, are 9 inches wide at the front, 11 inches wide at the rear, and measure a whopping 21 inches in diameter. And the cost? 10,500 euros to you, sir (or about £9k).

Hamann will also drop the car by 30 millimetres, and can fit a stainless steel exhaust with 90-millimeter tailpipes. Hamann has not revealed the price of these last two tweaks - but they won't be cheap...

[BigI]

There have been plenty of worse tuning examples, I don't think that it looks that bad.

[simonpg]

Hamann have done far worse to cars. I quite like the drop but I can't imagine its a comfortable ride..

[RobboC]

I think that looks excellent.

[anonymous-user]

The reason it doesn't look too bad is because they've done fk all to it!

[MintyChris]

Yeh it was a lovely car in the first place.

[mcdjl]

Article said:

First up are a set of 'Design Edition Race Anodized' (whatever that means). These matt black

These what? Wheels I assume?

[nsmith1180]

Thats a testiment to AMG's work really.

The combined minds of Hamanns tuning department get together and say Exhaust, Rims and Ride Height. The rest is spot on.

Good on AMG for getting it right and even better on Hamann for leaving it the hell alone.

[205jsy]

I was never a fan of the standard car really but i do like that.

[E21_Ross]

looks great. other than the wheels. oh wait....

[Jellymonster]

i like it

[StevenAldridge]

It could have been a LOT worse looking at some of their previous examples!

Still - 9k for wheels that aren't even all that nice is a bit steep!

Must say that I like the look the 30mm drop gives the car but I can't imagine it being a great ride.

[JumpinJack]

Looks nice! But I'm sure you source the parts yourself and get them fitted for about half the price.

As somone has already mentioned... Well done to AMG!

[matc]

These 'press releases' of new cars with big black wheels are a bit boring to say the least, I mean they haven't even done anything to this one!

[Mubble]

I always worry when someone like AMG spends millions tuning the handling only for someone to come along and 'slam it'.

I'm waiting to see the Brabus version if ever they get their hands on it.

[don logan]

Wait till Marilyn Mansory get their hands on one!

[RDMcG]

I never liked the car..(side windows look like pillboxes and nose too long, and these rubber band tires make it suitable for a drug-dealing football player. Nasty looking.

[adycav]

The SLS is automotive perfection as it is in my humble opinion, leave it alone you fiddling bds!

[sootyrumble]

I was at the Silverstone classic at the weekend and they had a maroon one there in the flesh it looks stunning, deffinitely now on my wish list and makes that true AMG growl

[Andrew[MG]]

I think it looks great in the first pic, a real classic look about it.

[Stu R]

Stunning