Modern Classic: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Jan 27

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing is now a highly desirable car. Photos: Mercedes-Benz

There’s a car that I dream would one day adorn a special place in the Car Barn at Parihoa and that’s a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

Debuted at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, production only lasted four years from 2010 to 2014. It had the honour of being the final car marketed by Michael Schumacher, who featured in a 60-second commercial telling the story of the sports car from concept to execution.

For me, the SLS with its long bonnet and the short, stubby boot is a “Batmobile” while the front-on profile reminds me of my all-time favourite car, the Mercedes Pagoda.

The Mercedes SLS has a long bonnet and the short, stubby boot.

It looks menacing and futuristic, like its predecessor the SLR McLaren (a future Modern Classic feature), which in itself is said to be the successor to the 300SL Gullwing. The similarity of all three, of course, is the Tesla Model X with its falcon doors.

As the name suggests, the SLS (Super Leicht Sport) was developed by Mercedes’ AMG division. At launch it had the world’s most powerful naturally aspired engine, being an incredibly sounding 6.2-litre V8 that was good for 420kW and hitting the tonne in 3.8 seconds (extremely fast for the day).

Initially, the SLS launched as a coupe only with the gullwing doors, however in 2011 it was joined by a convertible with “normal” doors and a fabric roof.

A soft-top convertible version of the SL was launched in 2011.

Special models including the “matte black” came in 2011 (for Japan), the “GT” in 2012, the “GT3 45th anniversary” in 2013, the Black Series (2013), Electric Drive (2013), and the “GT Final Edition” (2014).

The GT Final Edition, in both coupe and roadster, was limited to 350 cars and had an enhanced version of 6.2l V8 putting out 435kW. This same engine featured in the GT and both had many extras over the standard SLS, including Bang and Olufsen sound, a roof lining in Alcantara and a myriad of body add-ons, to make it one special machine indeed.

The Black Series had an even hotter 464kW version of the 6.2l V8 engine and, as the name suggests, black details everywhere and many of the same extras from the GT. It was 70kg lighter than the standard SLS due to the use of carbon fibre in the body panels, mechanical components, and space frame. This made it propel to 100km/h in just 3.2 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive (above) had 552kW of power.

Well ahead of its time was the SLS Electric Drive of 2013. With a 60kWh battery, with a range of 250km, and power of 552kW, prices starting at over US$500,000. Less than 100 examples were supposedly sold.

The prices for SLS models have climbed spectacularly for the limited-run models and for the standard SLS gullwing. The Black Series is at the top of the appreciation list but GT examples are sought after.

The standard convertible remains the “bargain” option comparatively, and some say, this could still be a sensible buy.

I had a crack on a one owner Obsidian Black convertible 12 months ago was imported to New Zealand from Singapore with 20000km mileage and it went for around $175,000. There are few SLS examples for sale in New Zealand but more (comparatively) in Australia.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series is also sought after by collectors.

With the impending 2021 AMG SL and AMG GT models not far away, many hope to see the SLS spirit running through these cars. The SL models of recent years, and indeed even during the SLS time, have lost the “wow”, with the grand tourer aspect inherent in the SL’s philosophy.

There may never be another SLS, especially with the model rationalisation and growing electrification, due to rapid changes in consumer tastes due to global marker transformation associated with Covid.

And that’s what makes the SLS so special.