Mercedes-Benz SLS
Encyclopedia
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a luxury grand tourer
automobile
developed by Mercedes-AMG
to replace the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
. The car is the first Mercedes automobile designed in-house by AMG and is described by Mercedes-Benz
as a spiritual successor to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 IAA. Sales began in mid-2010 in Europe with MSRP of €177,310 (including taxes) and in the United States in mid-2011 for less than $200,000. The SLS AMG is featured as the cover car for the PlayStation 3
racing game Gran Turismo 5
, and is the safety car
for the 2010
and 2011
Formula One seasons.
In the video game Forza Motorsport 4
, Jeremy Clarkson
of Top Gear comments "This is not just the greatest car Mercedes makes; right now, I think, it's the greatest car in the world."
-GT3
racing version. For 2011-2013 Mercedes will also be releasing a roadster (with conventional doors and a soft top), an electric powered E-Cell version (most likely to be a coupe), and there will be a Black Series version, which will see its weight being reduced by as much as 300 kg (661 lb).
25 SLS AMG GT3's were built for competition with only one not racing in Europe. Erebus Racing who race in the Australian GT Championship run the car which is driven by Peter Hackett who is also the Chief Instructor at the Australian Mercedes Benz Driving Academy.
's Australian subsidiary specifically for the 2010 Australian International Motor Show
. The one-off vehicle was eventually sold to a private customer from Singapore.
s (one on each wheel) with combined ratings of 392 kW (525 bhp) and 880 newton metre, liquid-cooled 400V lithium-ion battery rated 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah
. The battery will be supplied by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries
AG. Mercedes-Benz anticipates selling the vehicle beginning in late 2012.
via press release on May 5, 2011. It retains the same specifications, dimensions and drivetrain as the Coupe but is a more traditional convertible
with a power folding fabric top and conventional doors.
through a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft in a transaxle
arrangement. Selectable driving modes include "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual). A true manual transmission is not available.
, provisional figure).
test, the SLS recorded a quarter mile time of 11.7 seconds @ 125 mi/h.
magazine, safety specifications were revealed pertaining to the safety of the SLS AMG's gullwing doors. Ten to fifteen milliseconds after a detected rollover, explosive bolts situated at the top of the door frame fire and bell cranks separate the doors from the car for easy exit during a serious accident. An anti-locking system and a 3-stage ESP® are standard.
. This and the CL65 AMG 40th Anniversary Edition are the only roadgoing Mercedes-Benz with the AMG Alubeam Silver paint available, at an extra cost of €11,900 in Germany. Other colors include both metallic as matte colors, such as Designo Magno Kashmir, the matte paint known from the SL63 AMG IWC edition.
The SLS AMG has a rearwing which will pop up at high speeds for stability and handling, and when braking.
Moers also said the SLS AMG GT3 won't be coming to America and the company hasn't decided if the 2013 SLS AMG E-Cell will make the transatlantic trip either. The latter bit of information is surprising, but the company could be playing coy in an attempt to build up excitement.
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
developed by Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specializing in high-performance luxury cars....
to replace the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is an Anglo-German grand tourer car jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren Automotive, built in Portsmouth and the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England and sold from 2003 to 2009...
. The car is the first Mercedes automobile designed in-house by AMG and is described by Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
as a spiritual successor to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat, closed sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors. Later it was offered as an open roadster...
.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 IAA. Sales began in mid-2010 in Europe with MSRP of €177,310 (including taxes) and in the United States in mid-2011 for less than $200,000. The SLS AMG is featured as the cover car for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
racing game Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo 5
is the fifth edition of the Gran Turismo racing video game series. Developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, it was released for PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010...
, and is the safety car
Safety car
In motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track. During a caution period the safety car enters the track ahead of the leader...
for the 2010
2010 Formula One season
The 2010 Formula One season was the 61st Formula One season of World Championship motor racing competition. Red Bull Racing won its maiden Constructors' Championship with a one-two finish in Brazil, while Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers' Championship after winning the final race...
and 2011
2011 Formula One season
The 2011 Formula One season was the 62nd FIA Formula One season. The original calendar consisted of twenty rounds, including the inaugural running of the Indian Grand Prix before the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Pirelli returned to the sport as tyre supplier for all teams, taking over...
Formula One seasons.
In the video game Forza Motorsport 4
Forza Motorsport 4
Forza Motorsport 4 is a racing video game released by Turn 10 Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the fourth installment in the Forza Motorsport series, and was released in North America on October 11, 2011 and in Europe on October 14, 2011...
, Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
of Top Gear comments "This is not just the greatest car Mercedes makes; right now, I think, it's the greatest car in the world."
Design
The SLS AMG is designed to be a modern 300SL Gullwing revival by Gorden Wagener. The car has a long bonnet, the passenger compartment is close to the rear axle and the rear of the car is short. The SLS AMG has also adapted the feature of wing doors that will swing open upwards on gas struts, not in a mix of upwards and forward like the SLR. The doors must be closed manually as AMG engineers decided against auto-closing systems because the systems would have added 90 pounds (40.8 kg) to the car. In case of a roll-over, the doors can be fully detached to allow the occupants to leave the vehicle.Versions
The SLS AMG will be made in at least four different versions. The first to launch is the coupe with gullwing doors. In 2009 a Desert Gold version debuted at the Dubai International Auto Show, in mid-2010 a FIAFédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
-GT3
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
racing version. For 2011-2013 Mercedes will also be releasing a roadster (with conventional doors and a soft top), an electric powered E-Cell version (most likely to be a coupe), and there will be a Black Series version, which will see its weight being reduced by as much as 300 kg (661 lb).
SLS AMG GT3
A GT3-spec racing version of the SLS AMG was unveiled at the 2010 New York Auto Show. It is set to compete in national GT3 championships before being allowed race in the FIA GT3 Championship in 2011. At VLN Nürburgring, the SLS AMG GT3 was admitted into the SP9 class with "Balance of Performance" set to 1350 kg and 556 PS, and won its first race in October.25 SLS AMG GT3's were built for competition with only one not racing in Europe. Erebus Racing who race in the Australian GT Championship run the car which is driven by Peter Hackett who is also the Chief Instructor at the Australian Mercedes Benz Driving Academy.
SLS AMG "Blackbird"
The SLS AMG "Blackbird" was a unique, special edition SLS AMG created by Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
's Australian subsidiary specifically for the 2010 Australian International Motor Show
Australian International Motor Show
The Australian International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in Australia, alternating between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Prior to the Sydney event in 2010, both cities previously hosted separate annual exhibitions...
. The one-off vehicle was eventually sold to a private customer from Singapore.
SLS AMG E-Cell
The SLS AMG E-Cell is planned for model year 2013 and will use all-electric powertrain components. It will include four electric motorElectric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
s (one on each wheel) with combined ratings of 392 kW (525 bhp) and 880 newton metre, liquid-cooled 400V lithium-ion battery rated 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah
Ampere-hour
An ampere-hour or amp-hour is a unit of electric charge, with sub-units milliampere-hour and milliampere second...
. The battery will be supplied by Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries
Evonik Industries
Evonik Industries is an industrial corporation in Germany owned by RAG Foundation and one of the world´s leading specialty chemicals companies. It was created on 12 September 2007 as a result of restructuring of the mining and technology group RAG...
AG. Mercedes-Benz anticipates selling the vehicle beginning in late 2012.
SLS AMG Roadster
The SLS AMG Roadster was unveiled by Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
via press release on May 5, 2011. It retains the same specifications, dimensions and drivetrain as the Coupe but is a more traditional convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
with a power folding fabric top and conventional doors.
Data
- WheelbaseWheelbaseIn both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
: 105.5 in (2680 mm) - Length 182.6 in (4638 mm)
- Width 76.3 in (1939 mm)
- Height 49.7 in (1262 mm)
- Rims: 9.50 × 19 in (front), 11 × 20 in (rear), forged aluminium
- Tyres: 265/35 R 19 (front), 295/30 R 20 (rear)
- Kerb Weight: 3562.48 lb (1620 kg)
- Power-to-weight ratioPower-to-weight ratioPower-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
: 348 bhp/tonne - Weight-to-power ratio: 2.78 kg (6.1 lb)/ 1 PS
Engine
- M 159, liquid-cooled V8V8 engineA V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
Four-stroke engine, cylinder bank angle 90° - Four valves/cylinder, DOHC
- Forged and balanced crankshaft
- Forged pistons
- Two 74 mm (2.91 in) throttles
- Bosch ME 9.7 ECUEngine control unitAn engine control unit is a type of electronic control unit that determines the amount of fuel, ignition timing and other parameters an internal combustion engine needs to keep running...
, electronic fuel injection - Tubular steel exhaust headers
- Bore x stroke: 102.2 mm (4.02 in) × 94.6 mm (3.72 in)
- DisplacementEngine displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
: 378.835 cu in (6.2 l) - Power: 571 PS at 6800 rpm
- Power per litre: 92 PS
- TorqueTorqueTorque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
: 650 newton metre at 4750 rpm - Torque per litre: 104.7 newton metre
- Max. 7200 rpm
- Engine lubrication: dry sumpDry sumpA dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
- Weight: 206 kg (454.2 lb)
Transmission
Standard transmission is AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmissionSemi-automatic transmission
A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press...
through a lightweight carbon fiber driveshaft in a transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
arrangement. Selectable driving modes include "C" (Controlled Efficiency), "S" (Sport), "S+" (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual). A true manual transmission is not available.
Brakes
Standard brakes are 390 mm (15.35 in) (front) and 360 mm (14.17 in) (rear) cast iron disc brakes with 6-piston aluminium (front) and 4-piston (rear) calipers. Optional on the SLS AMG are carbon-ceramic disc brakes. 402 mm (15.83 in) discs with 6-piston aluminium calipers (front) and 360 mm (14.17 in) discs with 4-piston calipers (rear). These brakes provide increased stopping power with a 40% weight reduction compared to the standard brake system.Environment
The fuel consumption of the SLS AMG is around 13 L/100 km combined driving according to (NEDCNEDC
NEDC may refer to:*National Economic Development Council, a British economic planning body*New European Driving Cycle...
, provisional figure).
Performance
The SLS AMG is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometre per hour in 3.8 seconds, and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 197 mi/h (figures are provisional). In a Car and DriverCar and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
test, the SLS recorded a quarter mile time of 11.7 seconds @ 125 mi/h.
Safety
In the July 2010 issue of Car and DriverCar and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine, safety specifications were revealed pertaining to the safety of the SLS AMG's gullwing doors. Ten to fifteen milliseconds after a detected rollover, explosive bolts situated at the top of the door frame fire and bell cranks separate the doors from the car for easy exit during a serious accident. An anti-locking system and a 3-stage ESP® are standard.
Exterior
The exterior aluminum body is supplied by Magna SteyrMagna Steyr
Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Oberwaltersdorf, Austria, with its primary manufacturing location in Graz...
. This and the CL65 AMG 40th Anniversary Edition are the only roadgoing Mercedes-Benz with the AMG Alubeam Silver paint available, at an extra cost of €11,900 in Germany. Other colors include both metallic as matte colors, such as Designo Magno Kashmir, the matte paint known from the SL63 AMG IWC edition.
The SLS AMG has a rearwing which will pop up at high speeds for stability and handling, and when braking.
Black Series
On September 20 2011, AMG director Tobias Moers announced that they will be launching a 'Black Series' version of the SLS. "We absolutely have to do a Black Series" he said, giving no more additional information. Previous reports of the car have speculated the SLS AMG Black to have a revised 6.3-liter (6,208cc) V8 engine with approximately 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS) and 677 Nm (499 lb-ft) of torque.Moers also said the SLS AMG GT3 won't be coming to America and the company hasn't decided if the 2013 SLS AMG E-Cell will make the transatlantic trip either. The latter bit of information is surprising, but the company could be playing coy in an attempt to build up excitement.
External links
- Official website
- http://www.worldcarfans.com/111091936725/mercedes-sls-amg-black-series-confirmed#ixzz1Ybh2KP30
- SLS AMG at Mercedes-AMG's US website
- Technical details
- Car interior
- SLS AMG Test Driven Through A Del Taco Drive-Thru
- http://automagz.net/2011/09/2011-mercedes-benz-amg-sls-with-electronically-adjustable-suspension.html