Gullwing unleashed

Mercedes-Benz's in-house performance brand AMG has finally launched its first unique model after almost two years of teasers, spy shots and more misinformation than facts.

Officially dubbed the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but simply called Gullwing by all, the 317km/h coupe was launched at Laguna Seca Raceway last week. And the twisting tumbling layout of the central Californian coastal circuit and the roads that crisscross the ranges around Monterey were the perfect environment to show the car at its very best.
 
AMG's first bespoke model, the SLS shares some of its engine architecture with other Affalterbach models, but that's the extent of the componentry transfer. The two-seater features a unique (for AMG and MB) front/mid-engined layout and a rear-mounted dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox transaxle unit that helps deliver a static 53:47 weight distribution and racecar-like balance.
 
The twin-clutch automated manual gearbox also houses a limited slip differential within it casing. It was developed in conjunction with Getrag and shares its basic design with the unit featured in Ferrari's California GT.
 
For its use in the SLS, AMG developed bespoke software and settings for the gearbox. It's also beefed up substantially to cope with the 420kW and 650Nm pumped out by the hand-built dry-sumped 6.2-litre AMG naturally-aspirated V8. Weighing in at just over 200kg, that tuneful fuel-injected V8 now gets unique forged pistons, new cams with revised timing, a stronger, stiffer crankshaft and a dry-sump oiling system that the allows it to be mounted lower to aid weight distribution and handling.
 
The architecture of the SLS allowed the engineers to maximise the intake efficiency of the high-revving eight. Says AMG's senior powertrain engineer and SLS team leader Dr Martin Hart, the engine is "loping" at its current output. There's plenty more to come, it seems.
 
The structure of the SLS is also unique and, save for ultra high strength steel in the A-pillars, is almost entirely aluminium. The chassis comprises a central space-frame cockpit fashioned from a mix of forged, cast and extruded components, upon which front and rear subassemblies are grafted. Major panels are alloy with the exception of the boot lid which is composite (its complex shape hides a speed-activated pop-up spoiler).
 
AMG used new super-plastic alloy forming techniques to press the trademark Gullwing doors' complex shapes. In a tangible link to the past, experience from original 300SL Gullwing owners is incorporated in the doors' design to ensure industry-best weather sealing, functionality and NVH, Chief Engineer, Dr Frank Emhardt told the Carsales Network. Owners need not fear rainwater puddles, Emhardt promises.
 
With all alloy suspension componentry -- double wishbone all around -- but a full complement of luxury equipment, the SLS weighs in at just over 1600kg. Insiders say a 50kg reduction for the rumoured Black Series is a snip. The design-frozen-but-not-confirmed-for-production GT3 version of the SLS will hit the track at less than 1300kg, they say. Expect the ‘secret' racer to also pack close to 500kW!
 
Hart and Emhardt say any future hot version of the SLS should step up the already impressive performance. According to AMG ambassador, true racing hero and AMG development driver Bernd Schneider, the standard SLS laps the Nordschleife at under 7:40 -- 15-16sec quicker than the SL65 AMG Black, and better than 10sec quicker than the car the SLS effectively replaces, the Mercedes McLaren AMG SLR. And that's with two onboard and a full cabin of computer data logging equipment.
 
Though trumpeted as AMG's own, the SLS is nonetheless still very much a Mercedes. Its styling is the work of the iconic German marque's 'central' design burghers, for instance, and the car is built at M-B's main assembly plant at Sindelfingen. It's hard not to notice the largest three-pointed star to be fitted to a MB passenger car takes pride of place on the 300SL-aping grille. And to punctuate the point there's another star on the topside of the front clip just a few centimetres away.
 
None of that means there will be a downgraded non-AMG Mercedes version, however. AMG board member and Director of Operations Kai Marten also played down the suggestion that the SLS's mechanicals would supply any parts or inspiration for the next generation SL-Series. Due in late 2011 or 12, the new SL will be a very different animal, Marten says.
 
Full series production commences of the SLS commences early next year, says Marten. Though the car is already officially on sale in Germany, at a smidge over 177,000 Euro (and the worldwide order bank is growing -- even Down Under), the cars driven at Laguna Seca were pre-production cars.
 
Though the cars were dynamically top notch, some less than perfect panel matches were evidence of a couple of very early cars making it to the track. Late pre-production cars are in such demand that several were on a plane back to Germany almost before they'd cooled down from the Laguna laps.
 
Look out for our full technical rundown and drive impression of the SLS soon.

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