Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: A classic reincarnated with a devilish engine!

The launch of a Mercedes with butterfly doors is an extremely rare event. The first was the 300 SL, nicknamed "Gullwing," unveiled at the 1954 New York Auto Show. Half a century would pass before its descendant appeared, the new SLS AMG.

Denis Duquet, Editor in Chief of   Car Guide, was the first member of our team to see, drive and describe this new Gullwing, after its worldwide launch on the U.S. West Coast just over a year ago. In this first article on the SLS AMG, he presents the technical genesis of the SLS AMG. He also offers his first impressions of driving this car on Californian roads and the Laguna Seca circuit, which he covered a few times at the pace set by Bern Schneider, five-time champion and current record holder in terms of victories, total points and leading positions in the DTM series as a driver for Mercedes-Benz.

Gabriel Gélinas followed last spring with his tale of a journey across Mexico in a SLS AMG at the classic Carrera Panamericana. This 3,000-km challenge was won in 1952 by a 300 SL W194 that preceded the first production model Gullwing.

And a few days after the Guide de l’auto 2011 (our major French publication) came out,  Sylvain Raymond wrote a feature about the SLS AMG voted Car of the Year for the 45th edition of this bestselling automobile guide in Quebec. In this article, Sylvain also summed up his impressions after taking it for a quick spin on Quebec roads.

Shaking up a legend

My mission aboard the SLS was to be entirely different. I was asked to do a complete test drive (road and circuit) including different performance measures for the Car Guide show on Canal Vox (using the printed guide too, obviously). If you’re interested in watching the show in French, which features the SLS AMG test drive, go to the Guide de l’auto TV page and click on GUIDE DE L’AUTO #5.

While some of my colleagues were lucky enough to have a week-long test drive, mine lasted just three days. First, the manufacturer stressed the importance of only feeding the SLS super gas with a combined octane rating of 94. They also asked that we refrain from driving over 300 km.

Considering we had to go from Montreal to the Sanair circuit (near St-Hyacinthe, Quebec) and drive the car during the filming, we ended up busting the mileage budget by a few dozen kilometres, and the tires were indeed a little more worn when we brought the vehicle back.

When Mercedes-Benz assigned its sports car experts to design the SLS AMG, it wasn’t because they wanted a Sunday driving vehicle or a trophy car. Nonetheless, it is civilized and comfortable when you drive it normally.

First-class cockpit

The first thing about the SLS AMG that will impress you is its long and low silhouette, its extremely long hood and the mirror-like paint finish. And that’s really the least of it because, with a starting price of $198,000, our test vehicle was decked out in seven layers of Alubeam Designo "liquid metal" which adds $14,500 to the price.

Although you have to watch your head, you quickly get used to the SLS’ vertical doors. They would be easier to close with the leather straps its ancestor had, but you can forget that for electric engines. AMG wanted the SLS to be all-aluminum so that it would be as light as possible. The body weighs 241 kg and the entire vehicle weighs 1,620 kg – that’s 60 less than the Audi R8 V10, which is also made out of aluminum but comes with AWD and added hardware (the Mercedes is RWD).

Once you slide into the sport seat, which is inspired by race cars, impeccably sculpted and features multiple adjustment options, you really get your money’s worth of things to see and touch. There is red and black leather, aluminum and suede everywhere. The finish is irreproachable. This is evidence of quality craftsmanship and hand sewing, as is also the case with the leather that envelops the dashboard and console.

As if it weren’t already chic and opulent, you can add a Bang & Olufsen 1000-watt sound system and carbon fibre, even under the hood, if you still have some pennies left. In fact, you can add $44,550 in options to the starting price of an SLS AMG, including optional ceramic brakes for $14,200.

Demure or devilish

On the road, the SLS’ engine purrs gently and the rev counter hovers around 2,000 rpm at 100 km/hr. At the slightest provocation, the big 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 spits, barks and growls like the pure-bred beast that it is. This diabolical engine is untamed yet elegant. It sounds like a blend of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, a Led Zeppelin concert and the Daytona 500. I’ve never heard anything like it from a production model.

Under the extra-long hood, the engine is set so far back that the front of the aluminum block is a good 15 cm from the rear of the axle. When AMG calls it a front-mid engine, they’re not kidding. With the gearbox integrated with the rear axle, the SLS puts 53% of its weight on its rear wheels.

This distribution is exceptional for a sports car with a front-mounted engine. It results in remarkably neutral cornering. On a familiar ramp, it didn’t show the slightest screeching, nor the least understeering, even when I pushed it hard. The front train was glued to the asphalt. And the SLS rotates on itself as the front wheels develop lateral forces.

The rear wheels hang dutifully onto their trajectory, with the traction control and electronic stability program (ESP) watching over carefully. There’s no messing about with 563 hp at 6,800 rpm and especially a maximum torque of 479 lbs-ft at 4,750 rpm for the rear wheels only. The Sport mode of the ESP is more tolerant during energetic driving.

There are also four modes for the mechanical seven-speed automated dual-clutch gearbox. From "C" mode that starts in second, we go to Sport mode that starts in first and allows for 20% faster shifting. Sport+ mode gives you another 20%, and "M" (manual) mode gives you an additional 10%. Shifting is achieved using the paddles on the steering wheel. In the latter three modes, the gearbox automatically boosts revs by downshifting. Paired with this kind of engine, it’s highly addictive.

How do you control an eruption?

The SLS also features a Race Start mode, which can be activated by following a procedure fit for a space shuttle. Ok, I’m exaggerating, but just barely.

On the acceleration track of the Sanair circuit, I clocked 3.75 seconds for the 0-100 km sprint, after finally finding enough traction on the tires. This figure is five hundredths better than the official number, taken from a quarter mile in 11.65 seconds with a peak speed of 199.5 km/hr.

After three of these race starts, I got a message on the dash telling me that the gearbox oil was overheating and cautioning to drive carefully. After a short break, the SLS delivered its best performance yet. As for its braking, with large 390 mm discs in front and 358 mm in the back, it halted from 100 km/hr in 33.67 metres. Not bad at all.

On the road circuit for the TV filming, I quickly realized that even in Sport mode, the stability control catches any abrupt sway from the rear axle. I was able to make the rear slide as much as I wanted once I totally deactivated the ESP, but at the same time I discovered that driving the SLS is a fairly delicate art.

With a front axle that lifts easily as you head into corners and with all that torque, you easily find yourself with oversteering. This is great for the camera, but for longer drives on the circuit, driving the SLS requires concentration and finesse. Unless you switch the ESP back on.

The SLS AMG is less efficient and more demanding to drive than its rivals, such as the Audi R8 V10 and the Porsche 911 Turbo, which both have AWD. However, this car is the most exciting and stimulating vehicle I’ve driven this year. Its engine sound alone puts it a category unto itself. For the rest, it’s a question of preferences – and means, of course.

Any annoyances? Well, there’s the fact that the rearview mirror is not big enough to reflect the entire rear window, and the left-side mirror blocks your view of inside corners in the city. But with its celebrity good looks and devilish engine, this first creation of the AMG wizards is easily forgiven. Very easily!