The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (C197 / R197) is a front mid-engine, 2-seater, limited production sports car developed by the Mercedes-AMG division of German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, with the assistance of David Coulthard.[4] The car is the successor to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.[5] SLS stands for "Super Leicht Sport" (Super Light Sport).
The SLS was the first Mercedes-Benz automobile designed and built from scratch entirely by AMG.[6] Upon its introduction at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the SLS AMG's 571 PS M159 engine was according to AMG "the world's most powerful naturally aspirated production series engine" ever produced.[7]
An electric version of the car, the SLS AMG Electric Drive, was presented at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Production ended in 2014 with the introduction of the SLS AMG GT Final Edition.
As compared to its predecessor (the SLR McLaren), the SLS is per Mercedes-AMG head Tobias Moers, the faster car on the track, both in the hands of normal drivers as well as race car drivers.[8] The Mercedes-McLaren SLR came in at 1750 kg.[9] The SLS, however, has a curb weight of 1619 kg when equipped with the standard wheels.
Design
The SLS AMG was designed by Mark Fetherston from October 2006 to April 2007 to be a modern 300SL Gullwing revival.[10][11] The SLS AMG has also adapted the feature of the gull-wing doors that swing open upwards on gas struts, and must be closed manually as AMG engineers decided against the 90 lb of additional weight that auto-closing systems would have added to the car.[12] In case of a roll-over, the doors can be fully detached to allow the occupants to leave the vehicle.
Although there is some overlapping in price and performance, the lighter SLS AMG is considered more of a sporty track-oriented car, compared to the heavier and more luxurious Mercedes-Benz SL which is a grand tourer especially with its optional V12 engine.[13] Compared to the SLS AMG Roadster, the SL is a hardtop convertible with technological and comfort amenities, and it also has available heated seats with a massage function.[14]
Production and sales
Body styles (production years)
The SLS AMG was assembled largely by hand, with its chassis and aluminum body shell produced by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria and then transferred to Sindelfingen, Germany for assembly, with its engine being hand built by AMG in Affalterbach, Germany.[17][18]
The SLS AMG was officially introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and sales commenced in mid-2010 in Europe[19] and in mid-2011 in the United States.[12]
Specifications
Engine
The 6.2-litre V8 engine (based on the M156 block) was modified to such an extent that AMG gave it a separate engine code—M159—to signify the more than 120 different modifications done to the engine (as well as the addition of a dry-sump lubrication system to handle the car's high cornering speeds).[20]
Transmission
The rear-mounted AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle is connected to the engine through a lightweight carbon fibre driveshaft inside a torque tube.[5] Selectable driving modes include "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual; allowing the driver to change gears via paddles present on the steering column behind the steering wheel).[21] A true manual transmission is not available.
Models
The first model introduced in the SLS lineup was the coupé with gullwing doors. In mid-2010, an FIA-GT3 racing version was introduced; and for 2011–2013, Mercedes introduced a roadster version (with conventional doors and a soft top), an electric E-Cell version (coupé), and the ultimate iteration named the Black Series, which has a reduced weight of 70 kg.
SLS AMG Coupé (2009)
The SLS AMG includes 9.5x19-inch (front) and 11x20-inch (rear) AMG 7-spoke light-alloy wheels with 5-twin-spoke wheels and 10-spoke forged wheels available as an option, 265/35 R 19 front and 295/30 R 20 rear tyres, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Formula-1-style LED fog lamp/reversing light, black diffuser insert, dual exhaust tips with chrome finish, an electronically retractable rear wing automatically deployed at a speed of 120 km/h, choice of 9 exterior colours including the AMG ALU-BEAM silver (an approximately US$12,750 option applied at a specialized location in 7 layers by hand after the surface of the car first receives additional polishing and finishing, with each flake of paint aligned to create a gleaming sheen of bluish silver that has the appearance of molten silver, a labour-intensive process that restricted Mercedes to only 2–3 cars finished in that colour per week[31]), designo magno allanite grey (matte), AMG magno sylvanite grey (matte) and Mars Red (metallic), an instrument cluster with LED upshift indicator and two white backlit dials, COMAND APS multimedia system with its 7-inch screen between the two centre air vents, AMG DRIVE UNIT facing the driver, E-SELECT shift lever, Nappa leather upholstery, solid metal and (optional) genuine carbon-fibre trim; choice of five leather colours for the interior upholstery (black, classic red, sand, porcelain and light brown), sports seat backrests made from magnesium, sports seats with two-zone seat cushions and four-way lumbar support and optional Memory package (three configurable individual settings), integrated head restraints and sporty transverse fluting upholstered in designo leather (in optional classic red, sand and porcelain), performance leather steering wheel in a three-spoke design with 365-millimetre rim, a 3.7-litre glove compartment with a spectacles section, a 176-litre luggage compartment, carbon-fibre driveshaft at the rear axle, AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, 3-stage ESP with acceleration skid control system, optional carbon ceramic brakes (an approximately US$12,500 option), and a 1,000 watt stereo system (an approximately US$6,500 option).
Motorsport
F1 Safety Car (2010–2014)
The SLS AMG was used as the official Safety Car in Formula One in the, seasons and part through the season when it was replaced by the SLS AMG GT variant, which remained on duty up to the season coinciding with the end of production of the SLS.[97][98][99][100][101][102][103]
Marketing
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG branded shoes were produced and sold in collaboration with Italian designer Santoni.[115]
As part of the SLS AMG's market launch, a print ad (started in February 2010) featured a red Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG on grey asphalt against a black backdrop. Different variations of the ads feature brief messages including, such as "Oh Lord …" or "A cockpit. An engine. Two wings. Is it still a car?", for example. The print ad appeared in daily newspapers and magazines. A TV advert with Michael Schumacher telling the story of an experiment with the SLS AMG demonstrating its technical highlights from preparation and test phases to the realisation was produced. The TV ad was premiered on 30 January 2010 on all major television channels with a 60-second roadblock, followed by a 45-second version in reruns until the end of March. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG website was extended with the addition of an interactive guided tour of the AMG development plant. In addition, three editions of an online magazine provided extensive information on the performance ("Milliseconds"), the lightweight construction ("Milligrams") and the design ("Millimetres") of the SLS AMG. A reporter blog www.sls-amg-reporter.de was launched featuring fictional enthusiast Matthew K. posting reports, pictures and video clips of his travels as an SLS AMG reporter as he follows the global launch of the new gullwing. Starting at February 2010, a new iPhone application called "SLS AMG" was launched, featuring a preview of the car via 360° gameplay using the iPhone's accelerometer. The SLS AMG also appeared in Gran Turismo 5, scheduled for release in 2010.[116]
The Cigarette 46' Rider, a boat inspired by the SLS AMG and built by Cigarette Racing, was unveiled in 2010 at the Miami International Boat Show.
Production
Production of the SLS AMG began at Sindelfingen in January 2010.[51] Sales commenced in mid-2010 in Europe[19] and in mid-2011 in the United States.[12] Production ended with the SLS AMG GT Final Edition in early 2014.[77] A total of 2,734 SLS AMGs were sold in the U.S., including both Gullwings and roadsters.[123] According to a post on mbworld.org by a Mercedes-Benz executive, total U.S. sales of SLS AMGs several months earlier were as follows: 1,837 coupés and 884 roadsters.[124]
The production breakdown for the 2014 SLS Black Series Coupe in the USA:[125]
Successor
The SLS AMG was followed in 2014 by the substantially less expensive, and less powerful, Mercedes-AMG GT.[126] Designed to compete against the Porsche 911,[127] it relies on forced induction for its power and is available as a 462 PS GT and 510 PS GT S.[126] Moers was also quoted as follows: "Speaking to Autocar at the (2015) Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed that the company has no plans to create a new supercar to replace the SLS. According to Moers, Mercedes is 'not in that league' at this moment in time."[128]
Reception
In his review for Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson praised the SLS AMG highly, saying it is "the greatest car on earth," noting that "it's more powerful than the Ferrari 458, louder than any Lamborghini, and it's way more fun than the 911RS GT Turbo 3S or whatever this week's ultimate Beetle (i.e., Porsche) is called. This is the thinking man's supercar."[129]
See also
External links
Press kit:
References
- Edmunds@ www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/sls-amg/2011/road-tesdt-specs/^
- Tony Quiroga. 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster; Without gullwing doors, the SLS AMG is every bit as enthralling, maybe even more so. Car and driver, September 2011, retrieved 6 April 2018^
- Eric Tingwall. 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series; Mercedes' crown jewel becomes a black diamond. Car and driver, March 2013, retrieved 6 April 2018^