The Mercedes-Benz "SLC" Becomes SLS, Gullwing Returns!

[YSSMAN]

KGP Photographers have been following around Mercedes-Benz AMG engineers all day under the hot sun in California's "canyon country" just waiting for the right moment. It finally came when the engineers peeled back the car cover and revealed the mystery vehicle we showed you earlier. See this malforned Viper prototype does little to help us determine what production vehicle this car will eventually become, but we know it's property of Mercedes-Benz and involves the work of AMG, so everyone's best guess appears to be the upcoming SLC super coupe.

The SLC, you may recall, will be a transitional vehicle that Mercedes uses to implement a new all-aluminum space frame in its lineup. The car will be limited to a very low volume, though the processes used to build it will pave the way for aluminum to be injected into the new SL line of cars when they appear in 2012. There have been rumors that the SLC will feature gullwing doors like Mercs of yore, though these spy shots don't support that theory either way.

In fact, all we're able to see are general proportions at this point, and its clear from the extra-long bonnet that this car will be front-engine and rear-wheel-drive. We suppose all-wheel drive is a possibility, though we don't expect the AMG team to abandon their favorite layout.

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I like it, a lot. I really would hope they would keep the single-unit headlamps ala the classic SL coupes, but I'd be willing to bet thats a no-go. It looks cool, I'm sure its plenty fast, and I'm sure it will be expensive.

 

[Danoff]

Looks a bit like a viper. Not liking the disproportionate body very much. Seems like a fairly non-mercedes design, but it's hard to tell with the covering.

 

[Leonidae]

could it be because they used SRT-10 parts that they got before Daimler and Chrysler got separated? 💡

 

[V1P3R]

WTF...

I hate Mercedes. Use your own damn car.

Yes, I'm aware Merecedes killed Chrysler and the Viper thanks.

 

[inferno]

haha. I'm not sure what to make of that. clearly that IS a viper. vipers arent made of aluminum are they? maybe they're using an aluminum version of the vipers chassis as a test mule for the new one they are developing? anyway that clearly is a modified viper. no doubt about it.

 

[Roo]

It'll be Merc mechanics in a butchered Viper body, as a disguise. Volkswagen did a similar thing a few years back when developing the Golf; they had a Citroen C3 body running around with Volkswagen development internals. The external differences were a bit obvious though - the double chevron was upside down and Citroen was spelt wrong.

 

[Jim Prower]

One thing gives it away...the wheels are five-lug...the Viper has, and always has had, six-lug wheels.

 

[Leonidae]

thus, it has M-B drivetrain.. in butchered Viper chassis.

 

[McLaren]

I can't believe some folks think this is any indication of the exterior. I will tell you now, NOTHING on the outside of this car is worth wondering about. It's so incredibly obvious that the only thing worth talking about here is the engine.

But I will also bet Mercedes will screw over HWA by calling it the Mercedes-Benz SLC HWA just like they screwed over McLaren.

The excerpt from R&T.

HWA, not McLaren, will build Mercedes- next great sports car.

There have been rumors for quite some time of a McLaren/Mercedes-Benz split from building high-end road cars. In fact, after the ambitious but not-very-successful Mercedes SLR McLaren, shared plans for a smaller (and more affordable) super-sports model were abandoned.
Instead, Mercedes' DTM partnet - HWA - has been chosen to develop and build the baby SLR. This new SLC will be based on the next-generation SL (code-named R231, scheduled for 2011), a front/mid-engine car with rear-wheel drive, in contrast to earlier spectulation of a smaller mid-engine Mercedes-McLaren. A show is under construction and will be displayed at Geneva next spring.
You might be familiar with AMG, Mercedes' tuning division, but what is HWA? Actually, it's very similar. The letters stand for Hans-Werner Aufrecht, a former Mercedes engineer and co-founder of AMG in 1967, which itself stands for Aufrecht, Melcher (a business partner with Aufrecht, who later resigned) and Grossaspach (the village name of AMG's first headquarters near Stuttgart).
In 1998, Mercedes took over 51 percent of AMG. But AMG's motorsports activities, engine development, and special vehicle department were left to Aufrecht, who immediately founded HWA. In early 205, Mercedes took over Aufrecht's remaining 49-percent stake in AMG. Now, HWA employs 224 people and takes care of Mercedes' special operations, such as the works DTM team. A little-known fact, it was HWA that has built such limited-production series models for Mercedes as the road-going CLK GTR and the CLK DTM AMG.
And though HWA will develop and build Mercedes' new sports car, the name will read Mercedes-Benz SLC AMG...not HWA.
The SLC will have a fixed carbon roof to lower the center of gravity and gullwing doors to link it with the SLR. The SLC will be a 2-seater, although one of the design goals is that the car provide more than adequate space for two people and their luggage.
The SLC engine is well known and respected for its performance - the 6.2-liter AMG V8. In the SLC, it will be modified to pump out 700 bhp. Even more punch will arrive when a twin-turbo version makes it debut later. HWA is aiming for a price of around $200,000, and only 500 cars will be produced in total. - Matthias Pfannmuller.

Wow...did I call it or what after just reading the article.

This article also proves that the exterior above is nothing, as I also said. KPG said these are AMG engineers meaning they are only responsible for the engine. Like the SLR building process, HWA will recieve AMG engines, and build the car from there.

 

[Joey D]

It looks like this...

And this...

Had a one night stand after meeting at some car show in East London and well someone forgot to use protection, nine months later this thing showed up.

 

[YSSMAN]

...I just hope it takes a few cues from this:



Still the best-looking Mercedes, ever. I'm still grief-stricken by my Grandfather's choice to buy a 300D Convertible over one of those (only $8000 for the SL in 1958), but either way he came out with a rare car. Now he is really kicking himself for selling the 300D, one of 600-ish models in that color for that year.

Even more ironic were the ties of Chrysler and Mercedes decades later, particularly with the 300C.

 

[Muzaffar]

Oh what the.....thats no Mercedes-Benz if you ask me.Looks like a viper with a TVR front.But maybe that was just to stir people up.I know there trying to develop a new engine which can be turbocharged (like they supercharge their engine before this...) or maybe some new suspension or something.....Looks like we have to wait and find out

 

[Joey D]

It's just a test mule so it's not going to look like that.

 

[Danny]

So where will this slot into the lineup?

Will it make the SLR redundant?

Will Mercedes price it out of contention with rivals?

I have many questions about this.

 

[Joey D]

It's to replace the SLR.

 

[Diego440]

wasn't the SLR a goner anyway?

 

[Onikaze]

Must say, the front is a blatant nod to the Gullwing.

They camouflaged it, but there's definitely a nod 'n a wink in there.

 

[Jim Prower]

Not like the actual car will look like that...

 

[ND4SPD]

That extra long wheelbase reminds me of a Maybach Excelero for some reason.

 

[Philly]

Road and Track had a picture of the car in the latest issue. I believe it was an artist's concept. It looked cool, I'll try to find a way to post it.

Road and Track also had an image of an undiguised LF-A on the Nurburgring. I don't quite belive that, seeing that it wasn't publicized very well.

 

[YSSMAN]

Aaaand now Mercedes would like to talk about it!

Mercedes-Benz has used the occasion of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show to release the first official details about a car that won't even be shown in Switzerland at all. It is the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, which has long been referred to as the SLC or modern day Gullwing. Mercedes has confirmed that the car will feature the same gullwing-style doors made famous by the classic 300SL, and from there things get very interesting.

While not ready to unveil the final design of the car, Mercedes did release dozens of images of SLS prototypes being tested by its engineers. It's readily apparent that the SLS looks smaller than Mercedes' current supercar, the SLR McLaren, but the smaller shape just hints at extensive weight saving measures. An all-new aluminum space frame contributes to a curb weight of just 3,571 lbs, a full 300 lbs less than the SLR McLaren. The SLS also rides on a long 105.5-inch wheelbase with a front track that's 1.2 inches wider than the rear.

Power will be provided by a tuned version of AMG's familiar 6.2L V8 producing 563 hp at 6,800 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The engine, which sits low and behind the front axle, will send all that power across a carbon-fiber driveshaft to the rear axle where a new seven-speed dual clutch gearbox carves it up. There will even be a Race Start launch control function that guarantees an estimated 3.8-second 0-62 time every time. Top speed: 196 mph. Stopping? 15.4-inch discs in front squeezed by six-piston calipers and 14.2-inchers with four-piston calipers out back, and a full set of carbon ceramic rotors will be optional.

Pricing hasn't yet been released, but expect to drop at least 200 large on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG when it goes on sale. The car is clearly not ready for the showroom yet, but Mercedes just wanted us all to know it's coming... fast.

Hooray! Well, I guess, I kinda feel guilty being all lovey-dovey about the SL BLack now. I'd much rather do with the "lesser" SLS.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE!

SLS?

Cadillac would like to have a word...

 

[Philly]

Cadillac made an SLS? I don't think Cadillac would have much of a leg to stand on in regards to the name unless they sold the car under the SLS nameplate, or had some kind of SLS designation.

I get the impression that this is nothing much more than a glorified SL63 AMG with less power or a slightly toned down, overpriced and regular production SL63 Black.

 

[buickgnx88]

Yeah, Cadillac is using the STS moniker now. Back when it was the Seville, they had the SLS and STS trims (Luxury and Touring sedans respectively), but now it's the STS (along with CTS, DTS, STX, etc.)

 

[YSSMAN]

In reference to the Cadillac, they build the SLS in China as the long wheelbase version of the STS sedan. We won't see it in the US, ever, but the last time we saw an SLS was what... 2004?

 

[Jim Prower]

I'm picking up very retro design cues under the camo.