Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG launched

The 'new' Gullwing pays homage to the original model first seen at the New York Motor Show in 1954, but this supercar for everyday use, is a synthesis of the advanced engineering strengths of Mercedes-Benz and AMG and dazzles with its aluminium space frame body and gullwing doors.

Underneath the long hood is a 6.3 litre V8 engine with a top power of 571 hp, 650 Nm of torque, and dry sump lubrication. There's a seven-speed dual-clutch in a transaxle configuration, a sports chassis with aluminium double-wishbone suspension and a DIN kerb weight of 1,620 kilograms which helps to accelerate the gullwing from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and give it a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited).

Frank Bernthaler, Director, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant, said:

"With the new SLS AMG, Mercedes-Benz has a fascinating super sports car that will quicken the pulse of any car fan. The SLS AMG gives even more magic to the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands and will surely become one of the most alluring sports cars of our time."

SLS AMG customers will benefit first-hand from the over 40 years of motorsport experience gleaned by Mercedes-AMG. The unparalleled technology package provides for extraordinary handling dynamics with moderate fuel consumption—another hallmark of AMG today.

"It is more than just the exclusive gullwing doors that make the design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG so special. Our aim with this interpretation is to create the classic car of the future and put the most beautiful sports car of the 21st century on the road," added Bernthaler.

Drivers who raise the gullwing doors of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and sit down in the sports seats will experience a very special interior.

In its conception, the Mercedes-Benz designers took their cue from aircraft construction to create an ambience that immediately evokes associations with plane cockpits. The defining stylistic element is the dashboard, whose powerfully extended wing-like profile creates the impression of great width.

The dashboard incorporates "silver shadow" electroplated air vents with an adjustable set of nozzles, whose shape vividly calls to mind jet engines. The instrument cluster with its shift-up LED display and two white illuminated circular instruments also appears very sporty in the metallic silver shadow look. The silver dials have red pointers and a 360 km/h scale. The main feature between the dashboard's two centre air vents is the Comand APS multi-media system with its 7-inch screen.

The elongated centre console made of real matt metal also takes up the plane cockpit theme. Among other things, the centre console incorporates the AMG Drive Unit, which is aligned towards the driver's seat and enables SLS owners to customise their vehicle set-up. The AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed sports transmission is operated by means of the E-Select lever, which is styled like a jet's thrust regulator.

The cockpit impression is rounded off by the concave interior trim of the gullwing doors, the high waistline clearance and the muscular side skirts, all of which also convey the feeling of sports car ergonomics. The high craftsmanship of the SLS interior is demonstrated by the use of refined materials such as nappa leather, real metal, and, as an option, real carbon appliqués. All of these features also express a great attention to detail. To help customise the interior, the leather is available in five designo colours: black, classic red, sand, porcelain and light brown.

Despite the low seating position typical of sports cars, which means the seats are located only 369 millimetres above the road surface, the wide opening gullwing doors ensure easy entry and exit. The designers made sure that the doors had as large an opening angle as possible, which is why they swing up by 70 degrees. Another consideration that is just as important is that the distance between the opened doors and the road surface is an ample 1.50 metres, while the size of the passage between the opened doors and the upper edge of the side skirts is a generous 1.08 metres. By contrast, the entry height (the distance between the road surface and the upper edge of the side skirts) is a low 45 centimetres. Another important criterion for ensuring an elegant entry and exit is that the opening and closing of the doors requires little effort.

The gullwing doors require less room to open than conventional coupe doors and can be completely opened in standard sized garages. They can be opened from the interior by means of a silver shadow handle. Thanks to the linkage system in the door's armrest, the door is easy to handle when closing. The buttons for the power windows, the central locking system and the exterior mirror adjustment are also easily accessible in the interior trim.

The gullwing will celebrate its market launch in spring of 2010.