AUTO
MERCEDES BENZ SLS AMG A rare blend of classic design and uncomproming performance, the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG is a front-engine, two-seat luxury grand tourer. The car was first showcased at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. More recently, the 2012 Paris Motor Show saw the launch of the electric version.
By Javier Alonso Esquerro
NOV — DEC 2012 W
90
With its iconic gullwing doors, the 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG – the successor to the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing – has already captured the imagination of motoring enthusiasts and critics alike. The car’s 6.3 litre V8 engine ensures its performance is every bit as striking: 571hp torque and 420 bhp peak power deliver 0-100 kmph in 3.8 seconds and 0-200 in just over six seconds. The radical design concept extends to the lightweight body frame. The SLS is the first Mercedes-Benz to feature an aluminium chassis and body for avionic-
perfect driving dynamics. The car also features the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, the AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, and the AMG high-performance composite braking system. The avionics theme continues to the cockpit design: Napa leather, real metal trim and optional real carbon fibre help set the interior apart from traditional offerings and Mercedes Benz says that five interior shades will be on offer to allow for personalisation. The most significant upgrade over its predecessor is the car’s AMG Ride Control sports suspension which uses electronically controlled dampeners to
give the driver three different suspension settings – Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.
The SLS AMG is instantly recognisable as the Official F1™ Safety Car which is deployed on the racetrack whenever hazardous situations such as accidents or bad weather endanger normal racing. The car is the first independently developed vehicle by AMG in its illustrious history spanning over 40 years.
It not only takes AMG, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz, into a new era, but also demonstrates development expertise of the very highest order.