It would appear that Mercedes Benz was trying to rain on Mazda’s parade when a group of slightly camouflaged pulled up in front of the same hotel that the Japanese automaker was keeping journalists on a recent press trip. In a bold act of guerilla marketing, the three AMG SLCs were led into town by a Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG and actually parked themselves in between the exit of the hotel and the busses that Mazda was herding their guests into. It is a surprise that they didn’t pop the hood and hand the keys over to the camera wielding photogs.
According to the German luxury car builder, “For the first time in the company’s history stretching back over 40 years, the Mercedes-Benz performance brand, AMG, is presenting a vehicle developed in-house… the super sports car serves up an exciting proposition with its unique technology package: aluminum space frame body with gull wing doors, AMG 6.3 Liter V8 front-mid engine developing a peak output of 563 HP and 479 lb-ft of torque and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration and sports suspension with aluminum double wishbones.
One of those camera wielding photojournalists who was at the event happened to be our good friend and fellow Southern Automotive Media Association member Mark Elias on the left of the shot, even he couldn’t resist taking a few snapshots of the 195 MPH super car that can do 0 to 60 MPH in about 3.7 seconds.
We’re not even going to see a concept version of the Mercedes SLC probably until this fall, but hasn’t stopped us from indulging in plenty of spy shots. This is one of the cleanest shots to date that helps confirm the shape we’ve been speculating on for over a year.
We expect to get even clearer shots as the concept is readied for September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The actual production car is likely more than a year away from hitting the streets because its premiere is currently scheduled for the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The SLR’s replacement should be powered by turbocharged V8 engine that will produce between 550 hp and 650 hp. Rumors give the car a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.8 seconds, and a top speed of 197mph.
Winter testing can be a spy photographer’s dream. The Mercedes SLC Gullwing’s cold weather test gave snappers a closer look at the lighting system as well as the cross-drilled disk brakes. The eyewitness accounts even suggest the SLC will take many cues from the original gullwing, the 300SL.
Engine rumored for the car is either an AMG-sourced turbocharged V8 or a naturally aspirated V10 engine, pushing out between 550bhp and 650bhp (judging by other German companies’ announced engine plans, the turbo V8 is more likely). No matter which engine is used, it will be mated to a 7-Tronic automatic gearbox.
The expect to see a completely unmasked SLC by the time it makes its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Shortly thereafter, a two-year, 6,000 unit production run should begin. Expect pricing to be in the $300,000 range.
After many spy shots of the future SLC spuerpcar, here are the first interior spy shot. The guys over at World of Car Fans were the first to get their hands on these, and even in the blog world of sketchy news, they were suspect of the pic’s origins - possibly Mercedes being the source of its own leak.
From the pic, the inside of the SLC looks like it may be taking its cue from the cleaner, low-rise design from the second generation of SL cars of the 60s and early 70s. Even if Mercedes is going for a retro look, there’s going to be a lot more buttons and gadgets thrown into the SLC than the Merc’s older cars. This pic shows off modern elements such as the COMMAND knob at the center console, temperature switches, flat-bottomed steering wheel and headlight switch.
The SLC is expected to be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine that will deliver 571bhp and 479lbs-ft of torque. The car will only weight 1650kg (aluminum body). Top speed is expected to be around 197mph and the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
You know you’re a true car fan when you see a new supercar doing the equivalent of a dog lifting its leg, and you still get excited. The future Mercedes SLC supercar was spotted in America and reveals the roof-hinged door lifted up on its gas strut. That’s about the only news to report for the spy shot as Mercedes has been doing a good job of keeping the car under wraps so far (the taillights in the pic are likely fake.)
The SLC is expected to be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine that will deliver 571bhp and 479lbs-ft of torque. The car will only weight 1650kg (aluminum body). Top speed is expected to be around 197mph and the sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The replacement for the SLR will first be revealed as a concept in 2009 with the production version to follow in 2010. It is expected to be priced around £120,000 (almost $210,000 at direct exchange).
Mercedes will unveil the successor for the iconic SL300 Gullwing in 2010 at the Geneva Auto Show with sales to begin later in the year. The future Gullwing will be placed between the Dodge Viper and the Mercedes SLR. The car will be limited to around 6000 cars per year worldwide.
This latest spy shots reveal the production-ready top-hinged doors, verifiable by the pair of riveted black panels on either side of the roof, which cover the hinges.
The future model is internally known as the C197 and will use an AMG badge and have a unique moniker aimed to distinguish it as a standalone, flagship model.
Under the hood Mercedes will place a turbocharged V8 or a naturally aspirated V10 engine, pushing out between 550bhp and 650bhp. The engine will be mated to a 7-Tronic automatic gearbox.
Here is an exclusive new rendering of gullwing SLC, the future supercar from Mercedes. The SLC will replace the SLR in Mercedes’ line-up and will be built in-house by AMG.
Most likely the power unit will be an AMG V8 displacing over 6 liters and producing around 500 bhp with normal aspiration. A probable turbocharged version could easily reach 700 bhp.
Read our preview on the future 2010 SLC in here.
Here’s a compilation of what Mercedes’ new gullwing coupe may look like. The picture above has taken all of the elements from the rumors as well as what was seen in spy shots. The car, which has been called the SLC, should be the replacement for the SLR. The new flagship supercar is expected to have a V8 or possibly a V12 engine and will be built in-house by AMG.
Will the final version look exactly like this? Doubtful. But if you squint your eyes, you can see all the shapes melt together into a graceful coupe, and this likely what you’ll see produced in 2011.
Mercedes and McLaren are looking to go separate ways: McLaren with the P11 supercar and Mercedes with the SLC. The coupe version will be revealed at the 2010 Geneva motor show (with a concept expected in fall 2009) and a roadster version will follow in 2011. Car Magazine revealed the measurements of the gullwing SLC: 183 in long, 77in wide and 49in tall – all wrapped around a 106in wheelbase. Codenamed C197, the coupe version will be powered by a a modified 6.2-liter AMG V-8 engine with an output of 600 hp.
It is also rumored that this may not carry Mercedes’s three-point star badge at all. Instead the SLC may only have AMG badges. So much for a successor to the original 300 SL gullwing.
The SLR is dead, but all hope is not lost. The SLR’s successor, the SLC supercar has already been caught testing. The first official peak at the concept version will be unveiled in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and the production car will debut in late 2010.
Unlike the McLaren built SLR, the SLC will be produced in-house by Mercedes’ performance unit AMG. Rumors say it will feature a mid-engined layout and will be powered by a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 engine. Although the horsepower has not been announced, considering that the SLC will be placed between the S65 AMG (604 hp) and the departing SLR (617 hp), it should put out at least 600-610 hp. Top speed will be around 200 mph, while the 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in 3.5 - 3.7 seconds.
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