Images of the production Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG "Gullwing" supercar have found their way onto the internet a week ahead of the planned debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The photos reveal that the SLR McLaren's successor features several vintage styling cues such as the gullwing doors and the prominent front grille with the extra large three-pointed star that hark back to the original 1950s 300SL Gullwing model.
The SLS AMG's rear-end design is less snazzy and not as curvalicious, or sexy for that matter, as the initial teaser sketches suggested. However, our first impression from these photos is that overall, Mercedes-Benz's new supecar with its Dodge Viper like proportions (we had to mention that...) looks far more distinct and special than its tuned-SL-Class-lookalike predecessor.
From what we know up to now, the SLS AMG gets a front-mid mounted 6.2-liter V8 engine developing 571 hp at 6,700 rpm and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque at 4,750 rpm. Power is transferred to the rear-wheels through a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that is located at the rear in the transaxle position.
Featuring a lightweight aluminum body that is supported by an 'uber' stiff aluminum spaceframe that help it achieve a kerb weight of around 1,620 kilograms or 3,671 lbs, the two seater hits 100 km/h or 62mph from standstill in 3.8 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph. According to Mercedes, provisional fuel consumption for the SLS AMG is around 13.0lt per 100 kilometers or 18.09 mpg US.
More details and a full, high-res image gallery are expected to be released in the next few days.
[Photos: Carpoint , Via: Autoblog.com]
