Mercedes SLS

[alelanza]

...
The SLS is not in the same class as the 458 or Mclaren,...

How could it possibly be, it's an AMG engined Dodge for crying out loud?

Agree, the dodge would be too quick and too cheap compared to any of those, completely different class indeed.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

...
The SLS is not in the same class as the 458 or Mclaren,...

How could it possibly be, it's an AMG engined Dodge for crying out loud?

X...let it rest will ya! Help me tune my S2000 then we talk next year yea?

[lolzi]

Im looking to the rumoured SLM AMG are said to be preparing. Now that looks like a mid engined lightweight weapon ....
http://www.carsuk.net/mercedes-slm-amg- ... -baby-sls/

The specs seem a bit strange - a 3.5 litre, twin-turbo V6 with only 350 bhp?

[xpensive]

Im looking to the rumoured SLM AMG are said to be preparing. Now that looks like a mid engined lightweight weapon ....
http://www.carsuk.net/mercedes-slm-amg- ... -baby-sls/

The specs seem a bit strange - a 3.5 litre, twin-turbo V6 with only 350 bhp?

This is simply Daimler's way of admitting that the SLS has made MB the laughing stock of the "supercar" segment,
those monsters might sell in Germany and Bahrain, but are not likely to impress neither 458- nor MP4-12C buyers.

Kitch.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

This is simply Daimler's way of admitting that the SLS has made MB the laughing stock of the "supercar" segment,
those monsters might sell in Germany and Bahrain, but are not likely to impress neither 458- nor MP4-12C buyers.
Kitch.

Xpensive,

The SLM is actually a £90k-£120k supercar. Its in a different bracket to SLS, Its Mercedes saying they want to cover a niche, not admitting they're a laughing stock!
Look at the facts, cheaper, closer in concept to the MP4-12C.
What this is, is Merc offering a an alternative to the higher end R8 and anyone who doenst fancy buying a McLaren or Ferrari(quite a few).
In the end, it will all depend on how it goes. And 350bhp from this report varies with 500bhp from others.

[autogyro]

Nah.
Mercedese lost the plot when they broke up with McLaren on the SLR.
The SLS is just a cheap bad copy to save money using American floor pan.
Its the same with the F1 team without Rory Byrn or the Honda base to work off.
Had to fail.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Nah.
Mercedese lost the plot when they broke up with McLaren on the SLR.
The SLS is just a cheap bad copy to save money using American floor pan.
Its the same with the F1 team without Rory Byrn or the Honda base to work off.
Had to fail.

Yea right
The SLR was SOOOO succesful right? McLaren proved to Mercedes that it could not build a supercar to plan.
AMG have taken an American floorpan, rejigged it with 3 years further development, and have come out with a car that is not only better to drive than the SLR, but also quicker round the 'ring and cheaper by £150 grand. Everyone in the motoring press agrees, this car is superior to the SLR, and by some margin too.

Plot lost? Only if they asked Mclaren to do the SLS

[Just_a_fan]

The problem with the SLR was that Mercedes and McLaren wanted to build totally different cars. They ended up with something that neither wanted. A car built by committee in effect.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

The problem with the SLR was that Mercedes and McLaren wanted to build totally different cars. They ended up with something that neither wanted. A car built by committee in effect.

Exactly why Mercedes did the job internally(AMG). I would be gutted if I shelled out 300k on an SLR to find the SLS cost half as much but is better.

Mercedes lost nothing going it alone.

[xpensive]

...
Mercedes lost nothing going it alone.

What part of Dodge don't you understand JET, it's just a Viper with stupid gull-wing doors added, that's all?

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

...
Mercedes lost nothing going it alone.

What part of Dodge don't you understand JET, it's just a Viper with stupid gull-wing doors added, that's all?

2006 X, that's when Mercedes took the platform. and 3 years it spent in development.
Dodge? Chrysler? Nah...at inception maybe, but not finished product.

[segedunum]

I must admit to being amused by that article. They're trying to create niches within niches. Goodness knows what their thinking is with this muddled strategy. The SLM is just a vastly inferior attempt at competing with the likes of the MP4-12C because they're afraid that it could take sales away from the SLS, so that notion of the SLS not competing and being in a different market is bogus.

They're going to have a very, very hard time competing with the likes of the MP4-12C by being 'cheaper' and I'm on record as being sceptical as to just how successful the MP4-12C will be in an already congested market.

I'm puzzled as to why they chose a Dodge Viper chassis to base the SLS on when they've had three or four years to work on something. Goodness knows what they've actually changed in that time, but then they did pull the Dodge engineers from the next generation Viper to switch development, so it is a Viper:

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightlin ... viper.html

Look at the thing. It's a Dodge Viper with the same chassis, a different engine, gull wings and some styling changes. You can see the SLS chassis clearly. They did it because it was cheap and probably couldn't afford to do something from scratch.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

The SLM is just a vastly inferior attempt at competing with the likes of the MP4-12C because they're afraid that it could take sales away from the SLS, so that notion of the SLS not competing and being in a different market is bogus

Right so its not even out yet and here you are saying how "vastly inferior" it is.
Have you seen one? Driven one? Seen a test drive of one? Know what it will cost exactly? Such premature assumption is not very wise.
Reports are actually very wide ranging. Mercedes can make small volumes much more easily than any of its competitors bar VWAG.
Why? Most of what they can make is already in production. Engine, gearbox, electronics...you know the stuff that costs money to actually design from scratch.
So if they decided to build a midengined rival to the 458 or even its own SLS, it would do so and still be in position to make profit.

If you would like to argue the toss, just look at what Mercedes did with the A and B-class.

Furthermore it is rumoured that this is Hans Werner Aufrecht's pet project. 747heavy may well be familiar with him but to those who dont, he is the A in AMG.
HWA(a division running alongside AMG...its skunkworks if you will) will be responsible for this car. With the people these guys have at their disposal I doubt this is Mercedes saying "Oh lets fill a niche". There is more to this.
Mercedes splitting from Mclaren, forced Mercedes to do somthing to utilise its F1 presence. The SLS is only the start.

This may be Mercedes launching AMG as its standalone sports brand.
http://www.am-online.com/news/story/New ... t/42902932

[autogyro]

It is old technology.
Its also to heavy for a successful Hybrid or electric platform.
AMG does that, adds weight, its why the Viper was chosen.
Its a shame realy, David Coulthard looks pretty driving it.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

C'mon gyro. Do your homework


http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Searc ... -Pictures/