Mercedes-Benz is making history with SLS AMG, the first vehicle developed in-house by its performance arm AMG, that is set to hit the market in the spring of 2010.

The super sports car serves up an exciting proposition with its unique technology package of an aluminium space-frame body with gullwing doors and the AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine developing 571 hp peak output and dry sump lubrication.

"The SLS AMG is emotion pure and simple for the Mercedes-Benz brand and is set to become one of the most alluring sports cars of our era", said Frank Bernthaler, director, sales and marketing, Mercedes- Benz Cars Middle East.

"Our loyal Middle East customers will experience with the SLS AMG the expertise of our sports car manufacturer Mercedes-AMG, built up over 40 years of motor racing, along with the kind of scintillating design that only a top athlete from the Mercedes-Benz stable can offer,” he remarked.

The radical design as a highly talented dynamic super sports car with its low-slung front-mid engine set well back also feeds through into the proportions as well as the optimised lightweight body concept.

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz and AMG present a car with an aluminium chassis and body, Bernthaler explained.

Compared with the traditional steel design, this results in a significant weight saving, clearly illustrated in the planned DIN kerb weight of 1620 kg excluding driver.

The newly-developed bodyshell comprises an aluminium space frame which, naturally, meets all the requirements in terms of passive safety and the hallmark Mercedes-Benz body quality that applies to any car sporting the Mercedes-Benz star.

Despite the low sitting position in typical sports car fashion, the wide-opening gullwing doors make it easy to get in and out of the vehicle.

The fine-tuned AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine achieves a peak output of 571 hp at 6800 rpm, thus turning the SLS AMG into one of the most powerful sports cars in its segment.

A power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp comes courtesy of the low vehicle weight, he noted.

The eight-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine delivers maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. The 'Gullwing' accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 315 km/h, he added.

The AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine delivers its abundant power via an ultra-light carbon-fibre driveshaft at the rear axle – similar to the set-up used on the DTM C Class racing touring car.

The transmission is mounted at the rear (transaxle principle) and is connected to the engine housing via a torque tube.

The 'Gullwing' comes with 3-stage ESP providing the driver with access to the three "ESP on", "ESP sport" and "ESP off" modes at the push of a button.

The AMG high-performance composite brakes all-round ensure extremely short stopping distances even under enormous loads. The newly-developed, optional ceramic composite brakes with larger brake discs guarantee even better brake performance and lower unsprung masses.

The design and development phase for the super sports car got underway in the last quarter of 2006 and an intensive vehicle testing programme will be completed by the end of 2009.-TradeArabia News Service