09 April 2009 - 11:00
Mysterious gull
Time to party like its 1955: the gullwing is back.
This is our first look at the Mercedes SLS, the front-engined supercar that’s
set to replace the McMerc SLR later this year and, well, we’re speechless. We
are quite literally without speech.
OK, it’s only a sketch of the exterior – though you can see proper photos of
the production interior if you click on our gallery – and it’s possible to make
even a Daihatsu Terios look mildly sexy in sketch form, but we don’t care. It’s
going to be awesome, isn’t it?
First off, look at those gullwing doors, just like the 300SL of the 1950s. Merc
is calling them ‘swing-wing doors’, but we know what they are. Proper
gullwings, none of your half-arsed scissor-door efforts here.
Now look at the long, blocky front end, at the swept-back GT-R style headlights
and the SLR-like side vents. Nestled under that long bonnet will sit Merc’s
6.2-litre V8, the engine seen in the C63 AMG, putting out a hefty 563bhp and
479lb ft of torque.
In such a lightweight coupe – the SLS will be primarily built from aluminium –
that’s good for a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds (faster than a Corvette Z06, as
quick as a Ferrari 599) and a top speed firmly in the 200mph region.
Transmission duties will be taken care of by a new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox – hence the flappy paddles behind the steering wheel – with four modes ranging from ‘controlled efficiency’ (only Merc could come up with that one) to full manual.
Other Really Quite Exciting Bits include a manually controlled rear spoiler and an ‘AMG’ button, allowing the driver to instantly call up a preferred set-up, just like BMW’s ‘M’ button.
Production is expected to start early next year, with a predicted price around £135,000. Before that, though, we’ll see the SLS in the metal at the Frankfurt show this autumn. It’s fair to say we’re a bit excited…
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Ooh, that looks lovely. It's certainly MUCH prettier than the bling-tastic SLR. Nearly £200,000 cheaper, with similar performance too! Also, GULLWINGS. Finally. I love gullwings. Now, if only they could knock another £100,000 off, I might be able to afford one. *SIGH*
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The moment I saw this, even without reading any of the article I immidiately though, Gullwing, YES!!!
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Possibly the best upcoming supercar of them all. Watch out Ferrari!!!!
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Nice regeneration of an old design. The only Merc that i've seen recently that I want
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Is this what i say running laps around the nurburg? if it is then thats awesome. This has to be the sweetest merc ever
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this car looks absoloutely fantastic. i am loving the chrysler crossfire like side blades and gtr headlights.
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ouch.... grill from a dodge caliper lights from a GTR gills from a crossfire looks like a mess to me. Gullwings are cool at least, shame they will NEVER make it to the production car.
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i adore this. there is no compromise on design for practicality. just seems to work! amazingly beautiful!!!!
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i saw the reall thingg fotoss!!! they look better than the sketchess!!
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That looks awesome, even the interior. Shame that the front, despite it being a gorgeous one, it's pasted from the GT-R. And the speedo and rev-counter are cheap-looking and very ugly, just like Ferrari's.
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What can i say its amazing everything about it design interior is awesome best super about at the moment id say.
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Looks promising, of course it's like its been styled for Hotwheels and the wheels, tyres, wings, lights and door sills we all need serious revision, but it's nice to see a new Merc' design that's not another damn-awful hatchy, nose down, bum up, people carrier, clone thing.
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This should be a properly advanced supercar, and it needs to be. The SLR's death marked a split-up between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz. Now the two companies are at war against eachother, and I daresay the V8 McLaren 'P11' will show it's face at Frankfurt too (prototypes have been spied of both these cars). If they keep competing, then there will surely be some kind of supercar arms race, wich can only be a good thing!
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*which can etc.
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I know this is just a design drawing, but if it's going to be that Hideous, we all need to have a reality check. There is a reason the Big Three are going down people, and it's because people built cars that looked like that (and because they were just plain stupid.) NO MORE BOXMOBILES! And does anyone else see GT-R in the headlights?
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Just looks a bit to blocky, to chunky for my liking. It's proportions look too exaggerated. Still, cool doors, side cooling vents and Nissan GTR-esque headlights. I beg to differ if it's as eye-catching as the standard SLR, though.
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Its a bit chunky. Other than the Nissan GTR-esque headlights, the entire car seems very much like the GTR, which isn't good. It seems like a lot of power, but its not enough. The Corvette ZR1 has 638 BHP, this has 563 BHP. The corvette is cheaper, actually quite a bit cheaper, the Merc should have more power. I know AMG stopped the power race it was having with other in-house tuning companies, like M from BMW, but this isn't enough when compared with other cars. If you're comparing it with the Porsche 911 GT2 and Lamborghini Gallardo it seems like enough, but when pitted against Corvette, it looks underpowered and overpriced.
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I have another complaint. I don't believe in eco, I find it a disease like Jezza, but to gain sales Mercedes should have made it green. They could have made revolutionary, with hydrogen combustion. It sounds far fetched, but the technology is there and rich people will have their own hydrogen supply, they won't need to wait for hydrogen refueling stations.
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looks like a horrid crossfire,
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Crossfire's are all nose and no bum, at least this has a boot which makes it a true Coupe, the definition of which Mercedes seem to have lost of late.
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A Crossfire pumped with steroids. Merc must want to join WWE for the amount of muscles on the car. The SLS looks and sounds disappointing. Plz get AMG to visit the german stables again and grab few extra horses even if it means strangling the german horse-farmers for extra hooves. Next M5 may be hitting 731 and 800bhp. 563bhp is not good enough for SLS. Next M6 might be a goliath compared to SLS. We need SLS to counter than threat. Plz, Plz take the face bit to the french face surgeons for a cosmetic job, its hideous at present. Gullwings are stunning. AMG button, a bit like the BMs 'M'. Mercs are looking up to the amazing BMs now, just like they have copied the flame surfacing, swooping lines and the i-Drive. Oh, one more thing Merc and Maclaren split up. Who walked away with the secrets? Any imminent war just like merc and ferrari in F1?
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sick!!! but its only a drawing
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*WoW* OH MY GOD. MERCEDES MAKE THAT OR I WILL CHASE YOU!!!!!! :)
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I prefer the older drawings... (Its only a GT-R with a Merc badge! What's so good about it?? Haha...)
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omega-1996 commented on this article
09 April 2009
exciting! The real comeback of the gullwings silver arrow....
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