The Mercedes-Benz SLS->ke2504 AMG has been the apex of the luxury automaker’s sports car lineup since 2011. In 2012, Mercedes released the GT variant of the SLS AMG as the official safety car in the Belgian Grand Prix. The GT variant was a highly desired car, but Mercedes did not offer it up to retail customers.

That was until now, as Mercedes->ke187 announced it will offer up this model to the public for the first time. What’s more is that Mercedes has also released the official details on this all-new variant of the famed SLS AMG. Being the official F1 safety car, the 571 ponies that the standard SLS AMG’s->ke8 6.3-liter V-8 pumps out just won’t cut it, so we will see a nice boost in this variant’s powerplant.

Also included are minor aesthetic and functional additions to the interior. The real test is how this supercar stacks up to its competition, though there is not much out there that can compete with it.

Click past the jump to read all about the SLS AMG GT and to see how it stacks up to its competitors.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 591 @ 6800
  • Torque: 479 @ 4750
  • Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

From a distance, the SLS AMG GT looks pretty much the same as the base SLS AMG. That’s not a bad thing, as the SLS AMG is likely one of the few supercars in the world that perfectly balances muscle and grace in its body design. Just like the SLS AMG, the GT variant will be available as either a roadster or a gullwing hardtop model, so you don’t have to sacrifice body style options when moving up to this new model.

Like its SLS AMG brother, the SLS AMG GT features a cab-rearward design, which positions the cabin nearer to the rear axle for better road feel, leaving an oddly long nose hanging out front. That long nose, however, is just a part of the SLS’s charm. The cross fins and famed Mercedes star emblem still rest in the center of the SLS GT’s front grille, but they are coated in high-gloss black paint, much like the side-view mirrors, and the fins covering the heat extractors on the hood and front fenders.

Also painted black, but in a matte finish then clear coated to give them sheen, are the AMG forged rims. These small additions of black to the exterior of the SLS AMG GT may seem almost unnoticeable, but it does give the GT model a darker and more sinister appearance, letting those around you know that’s no regular SLS AMG.

Also changed up are the headlights and taillights on this SLS AMG GT. Sure, they are the same design as the base SLS AMG, but they are darkened slightly to add to the already darker appearance of the GT model.

The only other addition to the SLS GT that lets unsuspecting challengers know that this is the more powerful GT variant is the “GT” tag affixed to the rear end.

The SLS AMG GT is not a small car by any stretch of the imagination. It measures in at 182.6 inches long x 1,939 inches wide x 49.7 inches high and it weighs in at a rather flabby 4,265 lbs in the coupe variant. As a roadster, the SLS AMG GT’s height drops by 0.1 inches and its weight increases to 4,321 lbs. This is certainly not your typical low-weight sports car and it will take a drivetrain of massive proportions to get this beat rolling.

Overall, we love what Mercedes did with the SLS AMG GT; it added just enough to set it apart, but retained the overall athletic look and feel of the SLS AMG’s exterior. This is something that Mercedes has really perfected over its history and we wish more automakers would follow its lead.

Exterior Specifications:

Vehicle Length

4,638 mm (182.6 inches)

Vehicle Height

Coupe: 1,262 mm (49.7 inches) Roadster: 1,261 mm (49.6 inches)

Vehicle Width

1,939 mm (76.3 inches)

Wheelbase

2,680 mm (105.5 inches)

Curb Weight

Coupe: 1,935 kg (4,265 lbs) Roadster: 1,960 kg (4,321 lbs)

Weight Distribution (Front/Rear)

45 percent/55 percent


Exterior Options:

-AMG Carbon-Fiber Mirrors

-AMG Carbon-Fiber Engine Cover

-AMG 10-Spoke Forged Rims in Varying Colors

Interior

On the inside, the SLS AMG GT takes the SLS AMG’s already luxurious and sporty look and adds a racecar feel to it. You get a set of sports seats that hug you like the aunt you barely know does during a holiday family get together, but without that awkward feeling. These seats are wrapped in leather with Alcantara center sections and an embossed badge on each headrest.

The Alcantara treatment continues to the door panels, giving the interior a very luxurious, soft-touch feel. The entire interior is draped in black, but the red accent stitching and seatbelts help contrast the black nicely. You’ll find this contrasting stitching on the seats, center console, floor mats, door panels, and dashboard.

On the outside, Mercedes added in the dark accents and it carried this theme into the interior. You’ll find high-gloss-black AMG trim on the center console, the door panel lining, the cross-shaped air vents, and the metal insert on the steering wheel. Speaking of the steering wheel, it is a flat-bottomed piece with a red dot at the 12 o’ clock position, so you can easily find center, should you choose to race this ultra-powerful buggy.

Mercedes finished off the interior with a black AMG instrument cluster.

For an extra €5,771.50 ($7,566 at current exchange rates), you can add in the AMG designo Exclusive Style leather. This upgrade is available in a single color or two-tone and adds a diamond design with contrasting stitching to the seats and door panels. You can have this upgrade in three combinations: mocha brown and porcelain, titanium grey pearl and porcelain, or mystic red and porcelain.

For that extra-sporty look, you can opt for the AMG Interior Carbon-Fiber package. This includes carbo-fiber trim, seat back and sides, and door sill panels. You can also purchase an optional AMG Performance Media system.

If the SLS AMG GT’s stock stereo system isn’t enough for you, you can add in the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system for a whopping €7,080.50 ($9,281 at current exchange rates). This surround-sound system punches 1,000 watts through 11 speakers and is adjustable to be driver- or passenger-centric, or you can set it to be non-biased.

Interior Specifications:

Seating

Leather/Alcantara Sport Seating

Steering Wheel

Flat-Bottomed w/ Metal Insert and 12 o’clock Reference


Interior Options:

Option

MSRP

AMG designo Exclusive Style leather

€5,771.50 ($7,566 at current exchange rates)

AMG Interior Carbon-Fiber package

TBD

Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system

€7,080.50 ($9,281 at current exchange rates)


Engine and Drivetrain

Okay, enough with the cute stuff, let’s move onto what you’re really here to learn about: the drivetrain. Under the hood is a familiar sight, the same 6.3-liter V-8 engine that you’ll find in the SLS AMG. This 6.3-liter engine pumps out an amazing 591 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 650 Nm (479 pound-feet) of torque at 4,750 rpm, which is a 20-horsepower increase over the SLS AMG. As you can tell from the high engine speeds required to reach the peak horsepower and torque, this is a naturally-aspirated engine. The engine can reach a max speed of 7,050 rpm and features an amazing 11.3-to-1 compression ratio, which likely means tons of maintenance in its later years.

The engine mates up to Mercedes 7-speed sports transmission. AMG tuned this transmission to shift in a more responsive manner when you put it in manual mode, giving you racecar-like performance. This dual-clutch shoots the 591 ponies to the rear wheels without the use of a separate differential, as it is mounted in the rear axle. This helps minimize horsepower loss through the driveline.

So, with 591 ponies and a curb weight over 4,000 lbs, you may expect slightly above average performance. Not true; Mercedes managed to tune the SLS AMG GT to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.7 seconds – the same time as the base SLS AMG – and hit an electronically-limited 320 km/h (198 mph). The SLS AMG GT is also capable of hitting 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 11.2 seconds.

The vast majority of SLS AMG GT buyers couldn’t care less about the CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of this monster, but we have to take a look at it. It is rated at 19.91 l/100 km (11.8 mph) in the city and 9.3 l/100 km (25.3 mpg) on the highway, resulting in a combined 13.2 l/100 km (17.8 mpg). Honestly, for a car of this type, that’s not too bad. In terms of CO2 emissions… Well, you may want to look the other way if you are trying to also be “green,” as it dumps 308 grams of CO2 per km.

Engine and Drivetrain Specifications:

Engine Type

6.3-Liter, 32-Valve V-8

Engine Power

591 Horsepower at 6,800 rpm

Engine Torque

650 Nm (479 Pound-Feet) at 4,750 rpm

Transmission Type

7-Speed Dual-Clutch Automated Manual

Drive Type

Rear-Wheel Drive

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)

3.7 Seconds

0-200 km/h (0-124 mph)

11.2 Seconds

Top Speed

320 km/h (198 mph) Electronically Limited

Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

19.91 l/100 km (11.8 mpg) / 9.3 l/100 km (25.3 mpg) / 13.2 l/100 km (17.8 mpg)

CO2 Emissions

308 g/100km


Braking and Handling

The SLS AMG GT comes with the all-new AMG Ride Control Performance suspension system, which is essentially a higher spring rate and fine-tuned dampers. This system also eliminates the option to choose between “Comfort” and “Sport” modes, because who the hell wants “Comfort” in this car? Instead, AMG tuned the suspension to an optimum setting that gives you the best balance of the two.

There is, however, a “Sport Plus” mode that stiffens the dampers on smooth roads, giving you precision handling and a better feel of the road. The Ride Control Performance system changes between these two modes in a fraction of a second, so there is no ramp-up time to getting you precise handing or better shock absorption.

At the front and rear, you get a double wishbone configuration, which allows the left and right sides to work independently of each other at all times. This keeps the 265/35R19 and 295/30R20 tires on the front and rear, respectively, glued to the road’s surface.

On the corners, you have four-wheel disc brakes that are cross-drilled and vented to help dissipate heat. The rotors are two-piece units to help farther reduce its heat absorption.

Suspension Specifications:

Steering Type

Rack-And-Pinion w/ Electric Power Steering

Suspension Type

Double Wishbone Front & Rear w/ AMG Ride Control Performance

Tires (Front/Rear)

265/35R19 / 295/30R20

Brakes

Four-Wheel Ventilated and Cross-Drilled Disc


Pricing and Availability

As expected, the SLS AMG GT is rather pricey. In Germany, the SLS AMG GT runs €204,680 ($268,315 at current exchange rates) in coupe form and in roadster form it comes in at €213,010 ($279,235 at the current exchange rates). The SLS AMG GT is currently available for pickup at the AMG Customer Center in Affalterbach, but there is no mention of its pricing and availability in the U.S.

Pricing:

Model

Price

2013 SLS AMG GT Coupe

€204,680 ($268,315)

2013 SLS AMG GT Roadster

€213,010 ($279,235)


Competition

You can’t really compare the SLS AMG GT to the likes of the Lamborghini Aventador->ke3624 or the Ferrari 458 Italia->ke3479, as those are true supercars that are significantly faster, but lack the refinement of the Benz. You can, however compare it to other luxury brands, like Aston Martin and Jaguar.

center>


The closest competition that the SLS AMG GT gets is from the Aston Martin DBS->ke1479 and DBS Volante. These powerhouses boast a 5.9-liter V-12 engine that pumps 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. This immediately puts the DBS at a significant horsepower loss. When you toss in the DBS and DBS Volante’s fit 3,737- and 3,990-pound curb weights, the playing field starts to level out. Unfortunately, the weight savings is still not enough, as the DBS gets to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds – 0.6 seconds slower than the SLS AMG GT.

In terms of style, the two are equals, but vastly different. The SLS AMG GT boasts a more classic style, whereas the Aston Martin boasts a more modern body. The DBS gets a slight edge here, thanks to the fact that it has rear seats – if you can call those tiny things “seats.”

When it comes to pricing, the SLS AMG GT comes out a little bit on top, as the DBS Coupe runs $275,461 and the DBS Volante runs $290,461. Add in the fact that the Mercedes is bound to be a rarer find and that you likely couldn’t care less about having rear seats and the Mercedes wins out, hands down.

Comparative Specifications:

Specification

Mercedes SLS AMG GT

Aston Martin DBS

Advantage

Engine Output

591 Horsepower and 650 Nm (479 Pound-Feet) of Torque

510 Horsepower and 420 Pound-Feet of Torque

Mercedes SLS AMG GT

Transmission

7-Speed Dual Clutch Automated Manual

6-Speed Manual

Mercedes SLS AMG GT

0-to-60 mph

< 3.7 Seconds

4.3 Seconds

Mercedes SLS AMG GT

Top Speed

198 mph

191 mph

Mercedes SLS AMG GT

Weight

4,265 lbs to 4,321 lbs

3,737 lbs to 3,990 lbs

Aston Martin DBS

Pricing

Coupe: €204,680 ($268,315) Roadster: €213,010 ($279,235)

Coupe: $275,461 Roadster:

$290,461

Mercedes SLS AMG GT


Conclusion

We absolutely fell in love with the SLS AMG GT once we saw it, but it’s not perfect. First off, Mercedes likely could have milked much more power out of the 6.3-liter V-8 engine. Secondly, it is not as feature-packed as a nearly $300K car should be and the options that put it where it should be are outrageously priced. At the price Mercedes is asking, this car should be able to just about compete with the Aventador, but it simply cannot hang with it in any shape or form.

However, if you are looking for a well-behaved car on the road that you can get into a little trouble with, the SLS AMG GT is the way to go. Its adaptive suspension gives you a better ride that any Lamborghini or Ferrari can give, plus you are getting a limited edition of a limited edition model, so it is bound to be worth some serious scratch in the future.