The two-seater SLS AMG offers Indians the 'best or nothing' in keeping with Mercedes-Benz's true spirit. Let's see how it translates on the Indian road
By: Karishma Parkash
Posted on: October 10, 2010
The two-seater SLS AMG offers Indians the ‘best or nothing’ in keeping with Mercedes-Benz’s true spirit. Let’s see how it translates on the Indian road.
Big things come in small packages. That seems to be the new motto of Mercedes Benz’s not so large package in the form of the SLS AMG automobile that has well replaced the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. With a sleek sports car design (made me want to run my finger across it) complemented by the classy aviation inspired interior designs, SLS AMG is a mean machine to look out for!
My first impression on seeing it was that this car can be made the main lead in a James Bond flick. Don’t be fooled by its tiny size as this baby is an exclusive piece of art with superior driving dynamics and light yet rigid aluminum space frame. With a solid body structure and high performance, this car exhilarates automotive enthusiasts while not compromising on the basic qualities of Mercedes: Quality, Safety, Reliability and Exclusiveness. With approximately 241 kilograms of weight, a little more than few feet in width, (watch out for the nose), this vehicle is available in a variety of colours. If this doesn’t make the men drool…I wonder what will!
Fancy a 360 degree spin? SLS AMG’s dry sump lubrication allows the car to do a 360 degree rotation while running. Impressive!
Remember Me?
The purist design of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG captivates with its sporty look and its reinterpretation of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL’s breathtaking design lines. The highlights that take you down memory lane to the legendary sports car of the 1950s are the striking gullwing doors, the wide radiator grille with its large Mercedes star, the wing-shaped cross fin and the fins on the bonnet and flanks.
You first
Remember the saying ‘customer is King’? Well it’s true. If you have something else in mind, Mercedes-Benz can add a little personal touch here and there to suit your individuality. SLS satisfies the desires of its elite customers by offering a range of customisation opportunities via the AMG Performance Studio.
The SLS AMG was first presented in India during the Auto Expo 2010 at New Delhi. Needless to say, the response has been overwhelming with 10 confirmed orders! We are waiting to see a beauty like this adorning the Indian road. Achtung Baby!
Welcome to the skies
Have you always wanted to reach for the skies? Mercedes-Benz designers have taken their inspiration from the aviation world when designing the interior. The stylish dashboard ensures a visual impression of breadth with its muscular, wing-like profile. The four air vents with adjustable cruciform nozzles are prominently integrated into the dashboard which is reminiscent of a jet engine. The design theme of an aircraft cockpit is also reflected in the long centre console made of matt-finished, solid metal.
Engine statistics
A powerful eight-cylinder Mercedes-AMG engine forms the heart of the new SLS. The 6.3-litre V8 engine makes SLS AMG one of the most powerful sports cars in its segment. A power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp is courtesy the low vehicle weight. The SLS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and has an electronically limited top speed of 317 km/h. The eight-cylinder engine responds swiftly to movements of the accelerator pedal, demonstrating much more pronounced high-revving flexibility.
Safety at the wheel
The rack-and-pinion steering gear provides a consistently direct steering feel with a constant mechanical ratio of 13.6:1, in tune with the high expectations placed on a super sports car. The power steering provides speed-sensitive assistance and improves feedback for the driver as the speed increases: an indispensable factor for high-speed straight-line driving. But no, this does not mean you can talk on the phone and let the wheel do the work.
Acceleration skid is controlled in all three ESP modes. If one of the drive wheels starts to spin, specific brake pressure is applied to improve traction significantly and the engine power is transferred to the road even more effectively.
The AMG high-performance braking system with composite brake discs at the front ensures extremely short stopping distances even under high loads. The newly developed, optional ceramic composite brakes with even larger brake discs guarantee better braking performance.
Price: INR 2-2.5 crore (approx)
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