First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
To many automobile enthusiasts, the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the pinnacle of sports car design. With its low-slung stance and distinctive gullwing doors, the 300SL was the first gasoline-powered car equipped with fuel injection directly into the combustion chamber, and it solidified the German carmaker’s reputation for crafting highly desirable, slick sports cars.
Now, more than 50 years later, Mercedes is revisiting the legendary Gullwing with the all-new 2011 SLS AMG. The first car developed from scratch by their in-house performance arm AMG, the new Gullwing is proof that Mercedes-Benz can still manufacture true high-end sports cars. This one is sure to become a classic.
Model Lineup
The 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG is offered in one well-equipped model (and for more than $200K, it should be loaded). Standard features include designo leather upholstery, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless access and starting, AM/FM stereo with 6-disc DVD/CD changer, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, an HD radio, an iPod interface, a navigation system, bi-xenon headlights, Tele-Aid concierge service, a limited-slip differential, and P265/35R19 front and P295/30R20 rear tires on light alloy 5-spoke wheels.
Performance options include carbon ceramic brakes and forged 7- or 10-spoke light alloy wheels. A step up is the AMG Performance Suspension package, which comes with forged light alloy wheels, carbon-fiber interior trim, a leather and Alcantara steering wheel, and a track-calibrated suspension with 10 percent stiffer springs and 30 percent stiffer dampers than the stock SLS. Also available are a 10-speaker 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, extended carbon-fiber interior trim, carbon-fiber trim for the engine compartment cover and side mirrors, a fitted car cover and a fitted luggage set.
Standard safety features consist of dual front airbags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags, knee airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control. The SLS also comes with adaptive headlights that point into turns, rear park assist and a rearview camera.
Under the Hood
This slick vehicle uses the same hand-built 6.3-liter V8 engine that powers other AMG products. In the SLS, it produces 571 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4750 rpm. Compared with other versions of this engine, which make 525 horses, the SLS engine has a reworked valve train and camshafts, flow-optimized tubular headers, a better-breathing intake system and a less-restrictive exhaust system.
To optimize balance, the SLS has a front mid-engine design and a rear transaxle. The engine sits behind the front axle in an aluminum spaceframe. It is linked to the 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission by a carbon-fiber composite driveshaft. The result is a near-perfect 47/53 front/rear weight balance. Thanks to a dry sump oiling system with an external oil reservoir, the engine sits lower than it would with a taller oil pan, thus lowering the car’s center of gravity.
With a dual-clutch design, the transmission uses one clutch to hold the current gear and one to ready the next. Gear shifts are instantaneous, with almost no loss of tractive power. The transmission can be left in Drive to shift like an automatic, or drivers can shift manually via the gearshift or a pair of steering-wheel paddles. The transmission also has Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings that change the shift schedule. EPA fuel-economy numbers are not yet available.
Inner Space
Mercedes says the SLS interior was inspired by an aircraft cockpit. The four air vents look like jet-engine exhausts, but the rest of the cockpit is typical of a high-end sports car. The instrument cluster features two main gauges, a 220-mph speedometer and a 7250 rpm-redline tachometer. The gauges, which look like fine watch faces, are separated by a digital information display that can show trip computer information, additional gauge readouts, navigation instructions, service intervals, tire pressure at each wheel and even a race timer. Located above the gauges is a line of LEDs that acts as a shift light for drivers who want to change gears manually.
Source: MSN
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