2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 63: Back to the future
A few years ago, after the new version of the Mercedes-Benz SL AMG 6.3 came out, we sat down for lunch with one of the directors of the Mercedes-Benz High Performance Division. He said he was satisfied with the new 6.8-litre V8 engines that AMG had just developed as well as the new super-fast shifting transmission that the company had fine-tuned. And, with a little smile, he revealed that their engineers were working on a vehicle that would be exclusively an AMG creation. This new model would be more technologically advanced, lighter and offer better performances than any Mercedes-Benz. And since the two companies are merged, this project would not threaten the other half. The vehicle in question? It seems to be the SLS.
A flash from the past
There’s no doubt that one of the most legendary vehicles of all time is the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, developed in the 50s for races such as the Targa Floria and the Mille Miglia. These races were negotiated on roads used by passenger vehicles and required cars that were resilient, agile and powerful. Like any car bearing the Silver Star, the 300 SL went on to have a prestigious racing career, claiming more than its share of victories. In addition, its looks were totally unsurpassed at the time. Its engineers had given it a high, wide rocker panel for maximum rigidity. Since this mechanical configuration meant that traditional doors were impossible, the 300 SL received gull wings doors that opened vertically and gave the vehicle a truly unique look. A legend was born.
Over the years, several tuners have shown up with the same kind of doors, but none was really a classic. And despite the challenge, this is precisely what the engineers at AMG went after. You don’t need to be an expert on classic cars to know that this newbie bears a striking resemblance to its legendary senior. Now, I’m sure that many people would have preferred something a little more original. I have to admit that I was initially a little disappointed by the exterior of the car, as I was expecting something more spectacular and modern. But the more I look at it, the more I realize that this was a viable approach – and it was very well executed. I’d also like to point out that the side air vents look a lot like those used on the SLR built in collaboration with McLaren.
A little like the body design, the interior features modern components inspired by the past. Buyers can choose from two different presentations: carbon fibre s or brushed aluminium. And even though we’re talking about a very high performance vehicle, comfort has not been forgotten. The side support on the seats is markedly better than what you get on even the finest sports cars, and yet they’re comfortable, with excellent support for the lower back and thighs. The dashboard is relatively uncluttered, with only round air vents on the front portion. The indicator dials, which are separated by the Digital Information Centre, are a good size and found within a little module that shelters them from glare. The main control centre is located in a sizeable console between the two front seats. It includes, among others, buttons to control shifting modes, the start button, and the rear deflector button. There’s also a big, central button that controls most of the radio and navigation system functions. The heat and air con controls are located on the lower portion of the dash. While this console is tremendously practical, it is massive and infringes on the driver and passenger space (the passenger enjoying less leg room than the driver).
Let there be no question, the quality of the materials is outstanding, as is the fit and trim. But you need more than that to make an exceptional vehicle. Superb mechanics are the name of the game, and AMG is no slouch in that regard!
Exclusive platform
It would have been easy for the engineers at the two companies to simply take the same platform as the current SL, make it more rigid and lighten it up a bit. But when your goal is to create the ultimate sports car, you have to take it a step further. So, the engineers developed an all-new aluminium space frame chassis (different types of aluminium are used in order to obtain optimal lightness and rigidity). In addition to the chassis, several other parts of the body are also made with this material. When asked about the absence of carbon fibre on the vehicle, Dr. Frank Emhardt, the chief engineer on the project, stated that the difference in weight between these two materials was not as great as we are led to believe and that aluminium had more advantages.
All together, this makes for a type of capsule enclosing the passengers. The suspension is also made of aluminium. The use of forged aluminium gives it the rigidity that a car in this class requires. With the engine positioned front and centre, weight is well distributed: 47% in front and 53% in back. The engine, of course, is the 6.3-litre V8. The engineers used a dry sump to lower the centre of gravity as much as possible and optimize road handling.
Developed by AMG, this V8 has been the most powerful atmospheric engine around since its inception – and once again it’s been improved; now developing 571 hp. And given how light the vehicle is, the power to weight ratio is 2.84 kg/hp, meaning it can do 0-100 km/hr in 3.8 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 317 km/hr (according to the manufacturer). And despite the added power, this engine is lighter than ever at some 205 kg, which is quite impressive for this kind of machine. Since the engine is in the front, the transmission has been placed in the rear. It’s a double-clutch transmission linked to the engine via a torque tube with a carbon fibre shaft rotating inside. Again, the link is both rigid and very light. The new seven-speed double-clutch transmission stands out with very fast gear shifts (less than 100 milliseconds in Sport mode). The driver can choose from four different modes for the transmission. There’s “C” for Controlled Efficiency, “S” for Sport, “S+” for Sport Plus and “M” for Manual.
On a final note regarding the mechanics, I’d like to point out the locking differential, optional ceramic brakes and an anti-skid control with three different settings. The Normal setting intervenes more rapidly than in Sport mode, which allows more aggressive driving before the system kicks in. It’s also possible to deactivate it entirely.
Fuel consumption is something we haven’t discussed yet. Often times, people looking to buy this kind of car consider the issue the least of their concerns. And yet, the engineers responsible for developing this rocket on wheels claim that it consumes some 13.2 litres/100 km during normal driving. I must say that after taking it out for more than 350 km in different driving conditions, that’s exactly what we got! Scout’s honour! But after doing five laps at full speed on the Laguna Seca circuit in California, this beauty motored through 20 litres/100 km.
Road and track
One thing is clear: You can’t slide into a car with vertical doors the same way you do with conventional vehicles. It took me a couple of tries to get my groove for entering and exiting. The trick is to remember you’ve got a door overhead when getting out (so you don’t bang your skull). Incidentally, there’s no storage compartment in the doors – if there were, they’d spill their contents every time the door opened. Instead, there’s a grab handle to close the doors, but it looks as though short people would have a hard time reaching it.
That said, the seats offer excellent side support and can be adjusted in all directions. The driving position is also good thanks to the steering wheel that can be adjusted in height and depth.
A button on the central console starts the engine, which emits just the right amount of growl. Out on the road, the SLS does just as it’s told. Indeed, the suspension is firm, but not too much as the steering is not overly assisted or too firm, regardless of the speed. And what I really appreciated was the excellent responsiveness of the accelerator. Often drive-by-wire accelerators offer too much or too little, but this AMG is progressive and linear, making it easy to negotiate city traffic without jerky movements. While there’s room for improvement in terms of visibility, it really doesn’t pose a problem thanks to the sizeable outside rear view mirrors.
With its extremely powerful breaks and an engine that can impress even the most blasé, the SLS has absolutely no trouble negotiating the windiest of roads. Whether you’re out for a leisurely drive, going for mind-blowing speeds or hugging the curves of a country road, the SLS is always up to the task. I also had the chance to drive the SLS on the legendary Laguna Seca circuit in northern California. We were led by the well-known driver Bernd Schneider, who showed us the way and adapted his speed to ours. We did more than 200 km/hr on straights and more than 150 km/hr on some turns.
In all situations, the electronic driving assistance systems proved very efficient, allowing me to come across as something other than a country bumpkin. I had the transmission set to “S+” and its efficiency really impressed me. And yes, there was the famous “blip” with each downshift. The track vehicles were equipped with unbelievably powerful ceramic and carbon brakes that resisted overheating exceptionally well. The rigidity of the platform is also worth mentioning. However, while the Continental tires did the job well enough, I would have liked to try the circuit with some Pirelli P-Zero tires, as I’m certain they would have offered better grip on turns.
In sum, this new Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicle is about much more than just classic looks – its performances on the road and track are also those of a legend. And, in case you’re wondering, the SLS will be available in the spring of 2010 for a starting price of about $250,000, if my calculations are right. Guess I’d better go buy myself a lottery ticket. You never know...