We knew it was coming, but we just had no clue if it would be nearly as good as we were hoping for. We are talking about the Mercedes-Benz->ke187 SLS MG Coupe Electric Drive. As rumors swirled around this model, horsepower and torque numbers swelled to the point of sounding like borderline “White Whale” stories. Well, here we are at the beginning of the Paris Auto Show and Mercedes has wasted no time unveiling this all-new EV to the world.

To say that the SLS->ke2504 AMG is a bad-ass car in itself would be putting it lightly. The gasoline-powered model and its 563-horsepower, 479-pound-feet 6.2-liter V-8 engine is face-ripping awesomeness in a gullwing body. To think that the electric model could be as good as or even better than this little nugget of Benz beauty is near unfathomable, but looking at the basic outline of the car that Mercedes just revealed to us, it just may be a possibility.

UPDATE 10/01/2012: Mercedes has unveiled a cool promo video for their latest SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive - a supersports car equipped with Formula 1 high-tech. It produces no local emissions and represents electro-mobility in its most exclusive form. Enjoy!

UPDATE 02/25/13: A new promo video of the SLS AMG Electric Drive has been released. Check out the Tron-inspired theme of the ad; pretty cool, if you ask us!

Click past the jump to find out more about the Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive and to see if it is as sweet as its gasoline-powered sibling.

2013 Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: Battery with 4 Electric Motor
  • Horsepower: 740
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

At first glance, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive looks very similar to its gasoline-powered relative, but on closer examination, there are some significant differences. The most obvious differences come up front where the splitter has a more aggressive look. The grille is also a dead giveaway that this isn’t your run-of-the-mill SLS AMG. The grille and its flanking air vents don the same color as the rest of the exterior and as opposed to being open; they feature what Mercedes-Benz calls “bionic honeycomb.”

This bionic honeycomb not only adds a futuristic look to the SLS, but it also provides much-needed airflow to the modules mounted under the SLS AMG’s hood. You will also find that Mercedes-Benz added a little extra flair to the SLS AMG’s headlights, by slightly tinting them, giving the lights a sportier look.

As you make your way down the side of the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive, you’ll find that just behind the front brake heat extractor lay “Electric Drive” emblems, letting passersby know that you are both Eco-friendly and mean business at the same time. Also noticeable from the sides are the four light-allow, 5-twin-spok wheels wrapped in performance rubber.

On the outside, you get the choice of six colors at no additional cost. The most stunning color is, of course, the Electric Drive-exclusive “AMG electricbeam magno” matte finish – the sharp blue color seen in the images. If this is a little too extreme of a color, you can opt for one of the more commonly used colors.

On the back end, you will notice another difference between the gasoline model and this all-electric version. The rear end appears to be rounder than the gasoline model. This is a visual effect created by the revised rear spoiler and diffuser; the actual shape of the backside is the same between the models.

The SLS AMG Electric Drive’s body shell is the result of the “AMG lightweight performance” design initiative. Mercedes mounted the sensitive lithium ion battery pack in its own carbon-fiber monocoque that also makes up the spins of the vehicle. The monocoque is bolts and bonded to an aluminum space frame for added rigidity. This monocoque system weighs about 50 percent less than an equivalent steel unit and 30 percent less than an equal aluminum unit, but it is as strong as or stronger than both.

In all, just the body and chassis itself is a work of art. It is a delicate balance of lightening and strengthening, and Mercedes spared no expense in developing it.

Interior

On the inside, you have your typical luxury-laden Mercedes-Benz interior. Though the details are not completely known, we can tell that the entire interior is wrapped in luxurious leather and boasts body-colored contrasting stitching. Splashed throughout the interior are small smatterings of grey, like on the steering wheel posts, air vents, center console knobs, and gauge cluster.

The center console is a little cluttered, but honestly not too bad for an electric vehicle. The steering wheel boasts a flat top and bottom, and what looks to be the most perfect grip ever manufacturer. Just looking at it lets you know that this car is meant to be driven.

You also get AMG sports seats to keep you firmly planted through the twist and carbon-fiber highlights throughout the cabin. The AMG instrument gauges behind the grab-it-and-go steering wheel are all new, and in the place of the now unnecessary tachometer is a gauge that lets you know how much power the car needs, its recuperation level, transmission mode, and battery charge.

On the tech side, you get AMG’s Performance Media system, which connects to wireless high-speed internet, and provides you with important performance data, like lateral and longitudinal acceleration, tire pressure, vehicle setup, lap time, vehicle energy flow, battery charge status, current range, AMG Torque Dynamics, battery and motor temperature, and energy consumption.

Like we said, we haven’t gotten every last bit of info on the interior yet, as we are certain there are plenty of options to pick from. We’ll continue to add these options as Mercedes-Benz lets us know about them.

Motor and Driveline

Now for the really fun part; the stuff that makes the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive tick. The battery in the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive boasts 60 kWh of energy and has a potential energy of 600 kW. This pumps a total of 400 volts through the entire vehicle and into four electric motors – one at each wheel.

These electric motors are set in pairs at each axle with a transmission running each pair. Though they are run in pair, each motor can be individually adjusted on the fly to optimize traction, handling, and acceleration. The total output of the four motors is a whopping 740 horsepower and the torque comes in at a stout 1,000 Nm (737 pound-feet).

The drivetrain is powerful enough to get this SLS AMG Coupe to 100 km/h (62 mph) in only 3.9 seconds, putting it only 0.2 seconds slower than its gasoline brethren and 0.5 seconds faster than the Tesla Model S. To boot, this ultra-high-performance EV has a total range of 155 miles, making it one of the longest-range EVs on the market.

When it is time for a recharge, Mercedes-Benz gives you two charging options. You can opt for the standard charging system, which plugs into a household plug and takes 20 hours to get a full charge. For an additional cost, Mercedes-Benz will give you their wall charger, which charges the battery in just 3 hours.

With the four-motor all-wheel-drive system that this model uses, Mercedes also gives you the added benefit of AMG Torque Dynamics. This system actively distributes varying force and braking to each wheel to optimize stability.

There are three different modes of AMG Torque Dynamics: Comfort, Sport, and Sport plus. As you progress through each setting, the aggressiveness of the AMG Torque Dynamics system becomes greater, leading to a loss of comfort, but an increase in handling and responsiveness.

In a nutshell, this motor and drivetrain setup is flat-out awesome. Nothing can even complete with it.

Motor and Driveline Specs:

Motor Type Four compact permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors
Battery Energy 60 kWh
Total Voltage 400 volts
Total Range 155 miles
Charge Time)) 3 hours on wall mount (optional) / 20 hours (standard)
Acceleration 0-to-100 km/h 3.9 seconds
Top Speed TBD


Suspension and Braking

center>


First off, Mercedes-Benz positioned the SLS AMG Electric Drive’s battery pack low, keeping its center of gravity as close to the ground as possible. To compensate for the addition of driveshafts on the front end, Mercedes fitted the front end with a multilink suspension system with pushrod damper struts, much like you see in racing series.

These horizontally mounted dampers keep the SLS’s 265/35R19 and 295/30R20 rubber planted on the ground, as the hydroelectric steering system repositions the car quickly and effectively.

center>


Bringing this beast to a halt is a set of carbon-ceramic brakes with 402 x 39 mm (15.82- x 1.52-inch) discs up front and 360 x 32 mm (14.17- x 1.25-inch) discs in the rear. This brake setup weighs 40 percent less than the standard steel setup and saving that unsprung weight really increases its handling. To boot, these carbon-ceramic discs stop with far more effectiveness than steel units.

Suspension Specs:

Suspension Type Multi-link w/ horizontal dampers
Front Brakes Carbon-ceramic w/ 402 x 39 mm (15.82- x 1.52-inch) discs
Rear Brakes Carbon-ceramic w/ 360 x 32 mm (14.17- x 1.25-inch) discs
Tires Front 265/35R19 / Rear 295/30R20
Steering Style Hydroelectric assist


Pricing and Release Date

center>


Well, it’s expensive to say the least, as it the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is slated to come in at an outrageous €416,500 ($536,202 at the current exchange rates). It will launch in Germany in June 2013 and a UK launch is under consideration. There is no mention of a U.S. launch.

Pricing and Release:

MarketRelease DatePricing
Germany June 2013 €416,500
United Kingdom TBD TBD
United States TBD $550,000 (TopSpeed est.)


Competition

Well, you could loosely peg the Model S->ke3329 against it based only on the fact that it is a fast electric vehicle too. However, comparing the two is unfair, as the Model S is a sedan with a little bit of pep to it and this is an all-out supercar. For now, we’ll leave the SLS AME Coupe Electric Drive in a class all itself. Eventually someone will come by and challenge it.

Conclusion

center>


To say the least, this car is freaking awesome and, sans the pricing, it kicks the snot bubbles out of its gasoline-powered counterpart. Sure, it is a little slower than the gas model, but to have an EV that can pull off these types of performance numbers is simply stunning. But, that €416,500 certainly is a buzz kill for 95 percent of the world.