M-B going after BMW with hot hatch!

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Our Teutonic connection points us toward AutoBild’s coverage of a new Mercedes SLT shooting brake, expected to be launched in early 2007. The coupe-wagon, shown from AutoBild’s digital imagination (a stark reminder of BMW’s M-Coupe, for good or ill) will be based on the latest SLK roadster and feature Merc’s seven-speed autobox with Speedshift. No word on whether the US will see a version, though the company expects to sell approximately 5,000 per year in Europe. [Click through for specs.] Many thanks to Daniel for the tip.

Standard V6 direct injection engines:
230 — 2.5 liter, 214hp
280 — 3.0 liter, 243hp
350 — 3.5 liter, 272hp
320 — 3.0 liter CDI 246hp

AMG Versions (V8):
SLT 55 AMG — 5.5 liter 388hp
SLT 63 AMG — 6.3 liter (high rev) 503hp

70846.jpg
 
<3 MB.

I thought the thread said MG at first, though. :lol:
 
Could a small car like that handle all the horsepower??

You could get from a 2.5 V6 to a 6.3 V8 (can that even fit?)...and even a diesel?!
 
I'm afraid that powerwise it'll kill the competition.. but, short wheelbase and V8 is NOT good combination. it'll be fast on straight line, but on curves? well, it'll do power oversteer for sure, yes, but try to drive it fast into corner without tossing the rear to the side.. it'll need LSD etc.
 
That is the epitome of ugly, that face will never suit a small hatchback, nothing about it's dimensions or profile looks remotely nice.
 
I don't like the look of that at all, I can't imagine AMG putting 500hp+ in it.
 
it'll grow on you, believe me. btw, did you know that SLR convertible is on it's way? and there's plenty of other convertibles as well, like Civic CC.. :sick:
 
It might grow on some people, but that design won't grow on me, it's completely dissproportioned, it looks dreadfull. They just stuck an SLK front onto a hatchback cabin, two things that do not go, at all. It's not just wrong, it's miles off.
 
Doesnt look like a hot hatch at all. Just a messed up SLK. I think MB are going over board with this one, and BMW and audi have stopped competing in the power war with MB as tehyre just overkill. Its just BMW vs Audi now, real drivers cars.
 
Most likely not a 1-series competitor, more likely a Z4 competitor... the thing this most reminds me of is the Z3 M-Coupe... not a pretty car, either, by many accounts.

And I don't think the dynamics will be all that bad... it's a SLK with a bubble butt for chris'sakes... which means it'll actually be balanced.

It's interesting, yes... and it's a wonder more convertible/coupes don't get the shooting brake or hatch conversion. I think it's kind of unique.

But it's another useless niche in an MB range that so far covers, what, 11 segments, including this car (and that's not even including the SUVs and the Smarts...), with no (or at least very little) market or competitors in at least four of those segments... wow... go MB... seriously. :indiff:
 
I have never been a fan of hatchbacks so I have to say this is pretty ugly. If AMG does do a 500+ hp version I have to give them some kudos for that but I can't imagine it would be all that useable in a smal hatch. I will usually defend MB to the fullest but not this go around.
 
Looks like a stretched out flattened Z3 Coupe. Not necessarily bad . . . but it looks like it doesn't know what it wants to be, either a sporty 2 seater with a big trunk, or a hatchback with no headroom. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
 
I could see the car comming stateside, probably with numbers fewer than 1000 comming to the US per year. I imagine that Mercedes-Benz wants to wait and see how well the Z4 Coupe will sell in the US, as the origional M-Coupe didnt fair so well.

IMO: I like the idea of the car, but the design needs to be refined just a bit compared to that photoshopped picture. If they can get the roofline and hatch streamlined to fit the looks of the SLK just a bit more, I think they would have hit the nail on the head. But, and this is a big B-U-T, I don't think they could or even should go with the 6.3L V8. The 5.5L unit is plenty of power for such a little car, but if I was Mercedes, I would focus on the 3.5L V6 and the stick as what most people would want.
 
can someone point to me where it says the 6.3 litre is a v8???

from what i know of MB is that 6.3 litres would be a v12?!?



edit:: never mind i see it now... strange..
 
It looks terrible in my opinion. And all squashed like that with RWD, it's gonna have no room in the boot/rear seats ... which defeats the purpose of it being a hatchback in the first place.

Besides, a 500hp engine in a small car is a huge overkill. Is MB just starting to go for straight-line speed and giving up on competing with the other german auto-makers as far as handling etc goes?
 
everybodysfool
can someone point to me where it says the 6.3 litre is a v8???

from what i know of MB is that 6.3 litres would be a v12?!?



edit:: never mind i see it now... strange..
Click to expand...
AMG made a new 6.3l V8 N/A. :sly:
 
Hmm, I think its really ugly. The sportscar nose and the bloblike body dont fit. I never liked the SLK nose anyway. But 500hp? Hook me up! Im sure the looks will grow on me, as have those of the Bangleized BMWs which I hate but still love, love but still loathe. Anyway, mixed feelings.:boggled:
 
500 Bhp is a short wheelbase hatch will kill you if you ever even thought about taking it to it's limits. and yes, it's incredibly ugly, it will be horribly cramped inside, have low economy, just what is the point in this car, I certainly can't think of one.
 
live4speed
500 Bhp is a short wheelbase hatch will kill you if you ever even thought about taking it to it's limits. and yes, it's incredibly ugly, it will be horribly cramped inside, have low economy, just what is the point in this car, I certainly can't think of one.
Click to expand...

same as any supercar: kill rainforests, spoil the oceans, pollute the air and destroy endangered species.
 
Supercar's are at least designed with the purpose of being no frills track car's, or super grand tourers, this car is neither, it doesn't offer the practicality of a hatchback, the performance of a supercar, the comfort of a GT or the looks of and of the above, just what is the point in this car, what is it trying to be, what is it trying to beat, I certainly can't think of anywhere this car might make sense.
 
hmmm.. is it abandoned and buried concept then? if I recall right, I saw a claim that this project could be on hold..
 

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