Mercedes’s SLS AMG “Gullwing” in Detail

The Gullwing legend has been revived by Mercedes after years of spy shots and rumors.  The point of the so-called SLS coupe is to serve as a badly needed image-boost for the ailing German concern.  The Daimler group has suffered terribly from the Chrysler partnership, the Maybach re-launch, a poor rep in reliability, an economic recession, and a very competitive field.

It was in the middle 1950s that Mercedes-Benz sought relief from another crisis–that of a devastated postwar industry.  The Model W198, shown as the 300SL, served to restore the Mercedes marque for its blend of beauty and cutting-edge technology.  The 3.0 L inline-six was the first to have fuel injected directly into the combustion chamber.  The Bosch injection system doubled the earlier W194′s carburetted output, achieving a maximum of 212 hp and a top speed of 161 mph.  More distinctive were the 300SL’s lifting “gullwing” doors.  It has been that feature that has endeared it to collectors, for the lack of it has been a noticeable reason for the lesser prices fetched for the cabriolets.  The Gullwing retailed for $11,000 at its release; it now fetches $300,000 in auction.

The SLS AMG could be perceived as an expensive gimmick.  It’s real marketing factor comes from the duplicated gullwing doors, which lift to seventy degrees.  The bonnet is clean, simple, and slender.  The headlamps are vertically lined, akin to Nissan’s GTR and 350Z.  The side profile reveals a hard, notchback form.  But one cannot still let go that this appears to be a gussied-up SL63, Mercedes’s prominent grand tourer.

The AMG division handled construction of the M159, a 6.3 L V-8 that generates 571 hp and 480 ft.-lbs.  The system enjoys a new intake, revised cams, reworked valves, and special exhaust.  All these factors contribute to the V-8′s efficiency and immense power.  Mated to a 7-spd. SpeedShift, the SLS AMG achieves 0-60 in 3.8 sec. and tops out at 197 mph.  Even with this, the SLS is said to average 18 mpg.

Ceramic disc brakes, still a rarity in the industry, and AMG-branded race tires finish off the package.  The target price for the SLS AMG is €177,000.