Tuesday 24th May 2011

M-B's Porsche 911 Rival Is A Go-er

Smaller SLS based supercar may be called the SLC

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Early SLS sketch - we needed a picture...

That junior AMG SLS we told you about in 2009 is moving closer to reality - latest reports say Merc has attributed the name SLC to the Porsche 911-rivalling project, and that insiders have confirmed it will use an aluminium chassis structure related to that used in the SLS itself.

Back then we reported that the SLS undercarriage had a bit of wasted space under its lengthy bonnet that could be handily chopped out to make a smaller sibling (Easy this engineering lark, 'ain't it? Ed.), and Autocar has added a bit of corroborative info in a story online today.

They've got an M-B source who reckons the new SLC's looks are being fettled as we speak by a group of in-house designers at Sindelfingen, and that 'contemporary retro' is the theme. (We can only hope that 'contemporary retro' doesn't mean something like this.) They reckon the new car will be launched in 2014 and cost upwards from £75k.

Autocar also reckons power for the new SLC will be a naturally aspirated version of AMG's latest 5.5 litre unit mated to the SLS's transaxle gearbox. That's a bit less capacity than we thought 18 months ago when our AMG source suggested 'something between 5.8 and 6.2 litres'. Oh well, we're pretty sure we'll like it anyway...

In the firing line...

...and a reason why SLC is a good name!

[E21_Ross]

for some reason...i'm 99% sure it won't be as sharp to drive as the 911.

[George H]

I hope it looks like the concept they released a while back

[Benbay001]

George H said:

I hope it looks like the concept they released a while back

Thats a rebadged R8..

[Wills2]

This Autocars take on it.




I'll be replacing the 911 then and this would really appeal.

[dlockhart]

When it competes in the gt-3 series then 911 owners will take note. Until then its another large sporty car. AMG may put in place a large v8 but if it has an auto box and a ride thats too soft then it wont appeal to that many porsche owners. It may take a lot away from 6 series BM though.

[SleeperCell]

E21_Ross said:

for some reason...i'm 99% sure it won't be as sharp to drive as the 911.

Probably because it's an AMG Merc, this means it'll be good for poncing about and smoking up the rear tyres.

It wont sway those who buy a Porsche for it's driving dynamics, but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

[Wadeski]

Ummm....isnt that kind of what the SL does?

[Cheburator mk2]

SleeperCell said:

Probably because it's an AMG Merc, this means it'll be good for poncing about and smoking up the rear tyres.

It wont sway those who buy a Porsche for it's driving dynamics, but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

Must be the posing qualities of the SLS GT3 that allow it to smoke the 997RSRs, M3 GT3 and the R8s in the VLN this season

[Kazlet]

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

[Wills2]

Kazlet said:

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

[SWoll]

dlockhart said:

When it competes in the gt-3 series then 911 owners will take note. Until then its another large sporty car. AMG may put in place a large v8 but if it has an auto box and a ride thats too soft then it wont appeal to that many porsche owners. It may take a lot away from 6 series BM though.

Your just kidding yourself. The vast majority of porsche 911 owners have no interest in the motorsport heritage/credentials of the marque, it's purely a case of wanting the Porsche badge.

At the moment the standard 997 and S variants have no real competition so are the default choice for the majority of buyers. I think this car could definately detract from 911 sales personally if not too highly priced.

Oh, tiptronic/PDK boxes make up the majority of 911 sales also so I wouldn't agree with your comment regarding auto boxes either.

[kambites]

Wadeski said:

Ummm....isnt that kind of what the SL does?

If they're serious about making it a 911 rival, then no. The SL is a GT through and through; hopefully this will be lighter and more driver-focused.

[kbf1981]

Everyone guns for the 911, hasn't worked so far yet, this should be a nice car but it's a crowded marketing now:

- SL
- M6
- Aston V8V
- Maserati Grandturismo
- Corvette
- M3
- Audi R8
- Jag XK

....they all compete with the 911 at some point within the model range.

[kambites]

Wills2 said:

Kazlet said:

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

I thought the comment was at least in keeping with the post he was responding to.

[zakelwe]

If it's a normally aspirated version of the 5.5V8 then where does that leave the next AMG SLK then? Perhaps turbo 6 cyl?

[astrsxi77]

Kazlet said:

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

I am too busy enjoying changing gear to go about posing. Not a task that AMG owners ever need to worry about...

What do you prefer to do in your Porsche?

[kambites]

astrsxi77 said:

I am too busy enjoying changing gear to go about posing. Not a task that AMG owners ever need to worry about...

Not a task that Porsche drivers will have to worry about for long, I suspect. I think most 911s sold these days are automatics.

[Fittster]

Wills2 said:

Kazlet said:

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

How do you know what percentage of Porsche buyer are badge snobs?

[SWoll]

Fittster said:

How do you know what percentage of Porsche buyer are badge snobs?

Live in the real world. This has been the case for many years.

I am a massive Porsche fan (in particular the 911) and would hope to own one at some point. I appreciate them for their heritage, design purity and driver involvement but am happy to admit that the vast majority of Porsche owners bought their car's based on the badge rather than anything else.

Sad but true I'm afraid....

[SWoll]

astrsxi77 said:

Kazlet said:

SleeperCell said:

but I'm sure there are plenty of 'posers' who would easily be swayed over.

That will be most porsche drivers then.

I am too busy enjoying changing gear to go about posing. Not a task that AMG owners ever need to worry about...

What do you prefer to do in your Porsche?

You did notice the use of the word "most" and not the word "all" in the earlier post didn't you?

I would expect any Porsche owning PH'ers to fall into the minority group who bought their cars for the right reasons TBH.