Lorinser has designs on Merc's SLS AMG

The wraps have barely come off Mercedes-Benz's stunning SLS AMG, but already German tuning house Lorinser has concocted a pair of proposals for fettling the gullwinged supercar.

The first of these is a carbonfibre-laden projectile conceived to pay "homage to the racing soul of the car", as the 1950s 300 SL gullwing was originally designed for motorsport with its numerous aluminium components.

"If carbon fibres had been available then, the lightweight concept of the 300 SL would definitely have contained this material," says company CEO Marcus Lorinser.

Consquently, Lorinser's aggressive take on the SLS features a carbonfibre bonnet that sits in stark contrast to the red-painted aluminium panels that adorn the rest of the car. There's also a carbonfibre element that runs across the centre of the grille, and the lightweight material is also used in the side-sill extensions and the lower extremity of the front spoiler (which features a quartet of integrated fog lights).

However, die-hard Merc enthusiasts aren't likely to take kindly to the ditching of the three-pointed star that normally resides on the grille. In its place is the Lorinser family crest, which dates back to the 15th century.

There are nevertheless some interesting design elements that link the car to the 300 SL, such as the character bulges that run over the front and rear wheelarches. The large wire spoke wheels also hark back to the 1950s, even though their execution is thoroughly contemporary.

Lorinser's second SLS-based concept is a more restrained affair, as it was conceived as a "sophisticated road sports car". As such it features a "more sober grille design", and its front spoiler and side-sill extensions are quite low-key.

An unusual touch is the twin sets of gills on the fenders, while the bonnet is adorned by a pair of distinctive 'power bulges'.

Lorinser says it's still at the evaluation phase with both concepts, and it's yet to decide whether to press ahead with a "small-batch production" of either of the two studies.

We say, go ahead and do it, Lorinser. If Brabus can find buyers for the insane 'Black Baron', surely there's a captive audience waiting to be snared by a Lorinser-tweaked SLS.

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