It’s not often that a racing legend is reborn. No, we’re not talking about the Chinned One. This is a Mercedes, though, and CATS Motors has just launched it: the SLS AMG, aka the new Gullwing.
The SLS is the first model completely developed and built by Mercedes’ AMG performance division, and what a model it is. The legendary sports car was then one of the world’s quickest and fastest cars, and remains among the rarest and most desirable sports cars.
Of course, the most distinctive feature of the 300SL is its doors, made necessary by the tube frame running across the sides of the car. The 2010 gullwing is a modern take on this design, using an aluminum space frame, with door openings that are considerably larger than on the 1950s original. If ever the car flips over in an accident, preventing the doors from opening, explosive bolts will allow the doors to be removed.
SLS packs the power of a 6.2 liter V8, generating 571 bhp and 650 Nm. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a carbon-fiber driveshaft (weighing only 4.7kg). Transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch unit mounted at the rear. The front-engined car features a 47/53 front/rear weight distribution and checks in at 1620kg. 0-100 km/h acceleration is 3.8 seconds, and top speed is an electronically limited (!) 317 km/h.
Available AMG alubeam silver paint shimmers like liquid metal. Inside, the two-seater cockpit features a large wing-motif design and elongated center console. If audio stimulation other than provided by the AMG engine is desired, Bang & Olufsen obliges with a 1000-watt surround-sound system.
The best thing about the Gullwing is that it costs about half that of its predecessor, the SLR McLaren, perhaps meriting only half the attention of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
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