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Mercedes SLS AMG: the first 100% AMG vehicle

Michael Berenis' photo
Tampa Sports Car Examiner

Replacement for the SLR Mclaren, the SLS AMG is a very interesting vehicle. For Mercedes-Benz, allowing AMG to completely design and build a car from ground up is an earth shattering move. For years AMG has only been allowed to tune Mercedes-Benz built vehicles; now it's the other way around. AMG took every engineering step to building the perfect sports car when they designed the Mercedes SLS AMG. This new SLS AMG features something vintage from the past, the infamous Mercedes-Benz gull wing doors. This new SLS AMG is truly a 100% AMG vehicle, astounding!

Welcome to Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG specifications:

  • Aluminum space frame body
  • Front mounted 6.3 liter V-8
  • 571 hp @ 6800 rpm
  • 479 tq @ 4750 rpm
  • 3671 lb. curb weight
  •  2.84kg/hp power ratio
  • 0-62 in 3.8 seconds
  • 18 mpg


AMG has a rich history of improving Mercedes-Benz vehicles into performance hell hounds. These beasts turned loose on the street are sleek and inconspicuous but yet they are obvious to those in the know. An AMG has a different sophistication than any standard Mercedes-Benz vehicle; "this one is fast." Performance enthusiasts everywhere are very excited to see the level of excellence that AMG is going to produce in their first 100% vehicle design. This revolutionary step in Mercedes-Benz history is already capturing the world before the car even hits the show room floor.

Video content: Mercedes SLS AMG development detailed

History of Mercedes-AMG (wikipedia)

"AMG was founded as a racing engine forge in 1967 under the name AMG Motorenbau und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (AMG Engine Production and Development, Ltd.), by former Mercedes engineers Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in Burgstall an der Murr, near Stuttgart. The letters "AMG" stand for Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach, Aufrecht's birthplace (but at no time an AMG location). In 1976 most of AMG moved to Affalterbach, with the racing engine development remaining at the old location in Burgstall. At this time Erhard Melcher ceased to be a partner, but continued to be an employee at the Burgstall location.

In 1990, with AMG having become a high-profile purveyor of modified Mercedes cars, Daimler-Benz AG and AMG signed a contract of cooperation, allowing AMG to leverage Daimler-Benz's extensive dealer network and leading to commonly developed vehicles (the first one being the Mercedes-Benz C 36 AMG, in 1993). On 1 January 1999 DaimlerChrysler, as it was called between 1998 and 2007, acquired 51 percent of AMG shares, and AMG was renamed to Mercedes-AMG GmbH. Racing engine development was divested and continues to exist in Burgstall under the name HWA (Aufrecht's initals). On 1 January 2005 Aufrecht sold his remaining shares to DaimlerChrysler, and since then it has been a wholly-owned subsidy."-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-AMG#History

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, Tampa Sports Car Examiner

Full-time engineer turned writer, Michael brings knowledgeable articles about Tampa Bay's sports car scene. His experience in import, domestic, and exotic manufacturers ensures quality content for all readers. Michael is also a contributor at CarDomain.com and can be contacted via Streetfire.net...

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