Wings and a prayer

Like a bawdy burlesque show, the gradual revelation of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz "Gullwing" coupe is bumping and grinding its way to full exposure.

These most recent pictures from the hyperactive Carparazzi team show a test mule with what appear to be closer than ever revelations about much of the true shape of the revival top-level Benz sports two-seater.

Although the essential shape and proportions are similar to what we've already seen, there are signs of more production-ready elements making the proto look a lot smoother and more integrated than the versions with busy tack-on body parts we've seen previously.

Check out the door panels, for example, which no longer have the side "strakes" glued onto previous test mules (now revealing vents behind the front wheel arches), and the much cleaner rear end with a very Benz-style boot lid flanked by teardrop taillight lenses, as well as a couple of nicely integrated trapezoidal tailpipes.

There's also something that looks -- although stick-on tape makes it appear smaller than it probably will be - a lot more like a production rear window, while the front end could well be featuring something close to final headlight design, with a strip of LEDs installed underneath (there are signs of amber coloured LEDs on top of the headlights too). There are also unmistakable signs of a central three-pointed star that recalls the bold Benz identification of the original gullwing coupe from the 1950s.

The interior of the new generation gullwing was previewed at this year's New York auto show, and showed elements such as the two large, traditional dials for speedo and tacho separated by central digital display with readouts for the rear-mounted seven-speed, dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

The central point of the new Benz -- the gullwing doors -- are believed necessary to enable easy entry for passengers as they drop down into the low-slung cabin.

As previously reported the new coupe will be known as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and will be powered by a 6.3-litre V8 set well back in the engine bay and delivering 420kW at 6500rpm, along with 650Nm of torque at 4750rpm. There's even a fuel consumption average: 13L/100km.

The SLS Benz will replace the McLaren SLR as the company's top model and is scheduled to go on sale early in 2010. We can expect to see it here at the end of the same year.

Mercedes will surely be praying the global economic climate will be looking a lot healthier by then . . .

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