Gullwing Mercedes in Trouble in Turn 2

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

I appreciate that Mercedes-Benz wants as much sizzle on the corporate griddle as possible ahead of the Geneva Auto Show beginning this week. I’m not, however, so sure about its releasing high-resolution preview photos of the upcoming SLS AMG –- the so-called latter-day Gullwing –- with the prototype camouflage on it. With all the speed tape and exposed punch rivets the thing looks like it’s done 500 laps at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Nonetheless, from what we can see, the SLS looks like a significantly awesome piece of hardware. Set well back in the all-aluminum chassis will be Merc’s 6.2-liter, 563-horsepower V8 equipped with dry-sump lubrication. The engine will be connected to the seven-speed dual-clutch rear transaxle by a carbon-fiber driveshaft set inside an alloy torque tube. With peak torque of 479 pound-feet pitted against a mass of a mere 3,571 pounds -– with the help of a Race Start launched control system –- the SLS, or Gullwing, or whatever, should step off the line lightly, in an estimate 3.8 seconds.

The production-model unveiling is date-uncertain, but judging from these photos I’m guessing the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It’s also quite possible the reveal will be at Pebble Beach in August, since Gorden Wagener, M-B’s new design czar, loves the California surf.

And, as the pictures make clear, the car will have gull wing doors. That fact, however, should not cloud men’s minds that this is somehow an heir to the great W196-based 300SL Gullwing of the 1950s. They broke the mold after that one, don’t you know.

--Dan Neil

Photos by Mercedes-Benz via Edmunds.com