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2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG by MEC Design
 
There have been plenty of aftermarket companies that have released program options for the Mercedes SLS AMG. And with the car’s popularity continuing to soar, you can expect that more and more companies are ready to take a stab at the German supercar. Some of them even have already done so more than once. MEC Design is no stranger to working on the SLS AMG, so much so in fact that their first design for the car was introduced 18 months ago. Fast forward to this week and the aftermarket company has prepared a new program for the SLS 63 AMG, one that includes an aerodynamic package for a customer from Florida. MEC Design’s exterior package for the SLS 63 AMG includes a two-piece front spoiler, a spoiler lip finished in carbon, optional LED headlights, new side sills with four optional LED lights per side, a rear trunk-lid lip, a two-piece rear roof spoiler, a roof air scoop, a custom built, stainless steel sport exhaust system, three different diffuser options (Extreme, Formula, or GT3), and a set of mecxtreme3 allow wheels that are available in either 20" or 21". Inside the car, MEC Design gave the SLS AMG a sports steering wheel dressed in carbon and Alcantara with leather/Alcantara and carbon/leather combinations coming as added options for customers. Speaking of carbon fiber, there’s plenty of the high-end material placed inside to make it look like its swimming in the posh item. Carbon inserts have been applied on the middle console, door guards, entry guard, the seat casings, and just behind the rear seats. There’s plenty to see if you have the photos to look at. Fortunately, we have a mega gallery that you can consume at your heart’s desire. UPDATE 05/22/2012: MEC Design may not have one of the most impressive tuning packages for the Mercedes SLS AMG, but their promo package for the sports coupe is definitely one of the most impressive videos we have seen in the past few months. The video was directed by Daniel Michaelis, filmed by Daniel Michaelis and Willi Fast, and narrated by Claudia Black. Hit the jump to check it out! Full story 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG by HMS Tuning
Some people just have higher standards than others. For those people that belong in this group, you can point to a standard Mercedes SLS AMG and bemuse at the supecar’s 563-horsepower and say that it isn’t enough. Fortunately for them, there’s a tuning company like HMS Tuning that can satisfy their unquenchable thirst for speed and power. The Malterdingen-based tuning company has taken a stock SLS AMG and given the performance upgrade it deserves. The program utilizes HMS Tuning’s Xtra Power Supercharger, an intake manifold, an uprated oil pump, an additional ECU to control boost and fueling, sports air filter, and complete exhaust system which includes 4-1 manifolds, 200 CPI Sports Cats and valve control, and a newly developed forced induction program for the Mercedes supercar’s 6.2-liter V8 engine. This intensive modification program provides the SLS AMG with a nasty 720 horsepower and 614 lb/ft of torque, up from the stock 563 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque. That kind of output - 720 ponies! - is the kind that makes a supercar like the SLS AMG into a rocket on two wheels. Video: Forza 4 previews new Alpinestars Pack to release in April
Another month, another downloadable car pack from Turn 10 Studios. Never content with the growing number of cars on Forza Motorsport 4, Turn 10 Studios is gearing up for the release of their latest downloadable content in the game, the April Alpinestars Car Pack. For this pack of new vehicles, Turn 10 Studios is including a bevy of new rides mixed in with some classics from yesteryear. For the new rides, the Alpinestars Pack has a 2011 Mercedes-Benz #35 Black Falcon SLS, a 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, which if you didn’t know, is the fastest Jaguar in the world, and a 2011 Aston Martin #009 Aston Martin Racing AMR One. If you’re into some of the earlier models, the pack also has a variety of those, including a 1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE, a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, and a 1972 Mercedes Benz 300 SEL, which was, at one point in time, one of the fastest cars on the planet. To mark the occasion of the impending release of the Alpinestars Car Pack, Turn 10 Studios has dropped a video preview of the pack, complete with footage of the cars included in it. Check it out!
Spy Shots: Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series caught during cold weather testing
 For those who want more than just a standard SLS AMG, Mercedes is about to unveil an even hotter version: the SLS AMG Black Series. After being caught testing around the Nurburgring, the car was recently taken out once again, this time for some tests during cold weather conditions. Compared to a standard SLS, the Black Series will be lighter, deliver more power - rumored to be somewhere in the 650 HP area - and, of course, get an aggressive body kit. The spy shots reveal wider fenders and massive wheels, while the front bumper looks to have received bigger air intakes to push loads of fresh air into the rumored, revised 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. Tobias Moers, Member of the Board of Directors and Head of Vehicle Development for AMG, already confirmed that the company is hard at work on this model, so we should see it out sometime next year. 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Safety Car
The Mercedes SLS AMG was first used as a Safety Car back in 2010 shortly after its official debut. Now, for the 2012 racing season, the SLS is returning as the Official F1 Safety Car. The Safety Car is based on the standard SLS AMG, with absolutely no changes made to the standard 571 HP 6.3-liter V8 engine, or its suspension and braking system. What Mercedes did do was add a newly developed exhaust – designed to provide an even more emotionally-charged sound experience - as a tribute to the Formula 1 fans. Next to this, the Safety Car also received a roof light bar that boasts an aerodynamically efficient profile. The bar’s light functions are handled by LEDs which offer a fast response time and low power consumption. The colors change to green when the Formula 1 drivers can overtake the Safety Car or orange when no overtaking whatsoever is allowed. The roof light bar also incorporates a TV camera and a second camera located next to the rear number plate that allows the driver and co-driver to keep an eye on the Formula 1 cars. The interior of the Mercedes SLS AMG Safety Car is almost identical to the production car, except of course for the two central monitors placed in the cockpit, which are used to monitor the progress of the race. 2012 Geneva Motor Show: The Tuner Cars
One of our favorite parts of any auto show is seeing what the aftermarket industry has done to some of the finest vehicles in the world. At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, we were completely floored by all the programs being displayed. Whether it was the Lamborghini Aventador, the McLaren MP4-12C, or even a model like the BMW 3-Series, the tuning world was definitely well-represented in Geneva. The list below highlights some of the most impressive programs we saw. Some came from some of the best tuners in the world and some came from some surprising tuners. Nevertheless, it all amounted to some pretty impressive sights. You can check out the list of vehicles that were given tuning programs and let us know which of these works you consider your favorites. Check out the list of tuner cars from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show after the jump. Full story 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster Gulfstream by FAB Design
We all know how eccentric the folks over at FAB Design are, but one program that really captured our attention was their work on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Now, the tuner extraordinaire is back with a similar program for the SLS AMG Roadster. Just like the hard-top version of the Mercedes supercar, the program for the roadster is called the Gulfstream and it comes with plenty of aerodynamic and performance modifications. The first order of business is the body kit, which comes with a new front bumper with vertically positioned daylight running lights. It also has wider fenders that flow down into the sides skirts and run up into the widened quarter panels. A new rear bumper was also added with bigger vents to go with a diffuser and a carbon fiber lip spoiler. Lastly, FAB Design also installed a new stainless steel sports exhaust system that has an integrated valve control and a quad-tailpipe set-up. As far as performance modifications are concerned, FAB Design was able to bump up the output of the SLS AMG Roadster from the standard 563 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 607 horsepower and 509 lb/ft torque. The increased output allows the supercar to hit 0-62 mph in 3.6 seconds with a new top speed of 202 mph. 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster "Hamann Hawk" by Hamann
A year after Hamann wowed the Geneva Motor Show with their program for the Mercedes SLS AMG called the "Hamann Hawk", the tuning company is coming back with the drop-top version of the Mercedes supercar. It’s been no secret as to how adept these guys are with Mercedes vehicles and this program for the SLS AMG Roadster is no different. Aesthetically, Hamann fitted the supercar with the usual aerodynamic enhancements, including a front apron that replaces the serial bumper and a new LED light set-up. The SLS AMG Roadster also gets enlarged air inlets that provide more fresh air to the engine. There’s also a new bonnet made of checkered flag carbon, wider wings that add 60mm on the front side and 70mm on the rear side, new side skirts, a new rear apron with a matching diffuser, and a new set of 21" Unique Forged Anodized light forged wheels. Inside, Hamann’s noted interior wizardry allowed them to add leather applications and ultra-suede embroideries. On top of that, they also replaced the air inlets, door sill protectors, and center console with red colored carbon fiber parts, while also putting in black anodized aluminum pedals and a newly redesigned steering wheel. Finally, there’s the matter of the engine enhancement. For the SLS AMG Roadster, Hamann put in a new sports air filter and an exhaust system made out of stainless steel, as well as remapped the supercar’s ECU unit. The result is a dramatic increase in output from the car’s 6.3-liter V8 engine, from 563 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 636 horsepower and 501 lb/ft of torque. These numbers translate to a 0-60mph acceleration time of 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 204 mph. UPDATE 03/06/2012: The new Hamann Hawk Roadster made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show and we have a set of live images from the show. Enjoy! German patent drawings suggest a four-door SLS AMG in Mercedes’ future
With April Fool’s Day being over a month away, we’re not exactly sure how to take this news. It seems Autoblog has come across some patent drawings of a four-door Mercedes SLS AMG, adding to the growing number of shared platforms across their model line. A four-door SLS AMG? Say it isn’t so! The patent drawings reveal a very strange combination of gullwing doors and rear-hinged demi doors with what looks to be a non-existent B pillar. The paper work that accompanies the drawings suggest that Mercedes will be focusing on minimizing weight gain and preserving structural rigidity for the sports car. It also suggest that the vehicle will get an extended wheelbase to accommodate the extra doors, as well as a second COMAND multi-function control knob on the console between the seats. AutoBlog seemed to have been just as taken back by the news as we were. They asked a Mercedes official if he could comment on these patents and that official responded with practically nothing: "We won’t take the liberty of sharing comments for any potential future products." When asked if he would deny the materials, the official declined. If a four-door Mercedes SLS AMG is in our future, then vehicles like the much-ridiculed Porsche Panamera Turbo will get the kind of competition that will make for a cringe-worthy race of ill-proportioned sports cars. Families will never be the same again. 2012 Mercedes SLS "Silver Wing" by Wheelsandmore
It’s not the first time Wheelsandmore has produced a tuning kit for the Mercedes SLS AMG. If you remember back in 2010, the German tuner already unveiled a very cool upgrade package that increased the total output from the standard 571 HP to 624 HP. Fast forward to today and Wheelsandmore has announced their second program for the SLS AMG, called the "Silver Wing". For the exterior, the tuner is offering matte black with copper colored racestripes and a new set of 6Sporz wheels with handcrafted, 3-piece forged rims sizing 9.5x20 and 11.0x21 inches wrapped in ultra high performance 265/30/20 and 295/25/21 Continental Sport Contact tires. For the engine upgrade, the tuner is offering a remapped electronics and stainless steel exhaust system with remote-able valve flaps that will increase the output from 571 to 635 HP. The tuner also added an ultralight aluminum full race coilover with adjustable rebound and compression. | featured reviews:Mercedes SLS-Class latest reviews:Mercedes SLS-Class tuning:
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