AMG Driving Academy | Road Atlanta 2010:

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Video:

2011 Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG:

2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG:

SLS AMG GT3:

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was up against 11 other contenders in the “Production Super Sports Car” category. 24.5 percent of readers of Auto Bild Sportscars gave their vote to the gullwing model. In a strong field of 15 vehicles in the “Production Saloon” category, the E 63 AMG gained 19.2 percent of votes to come top in its class for the second year running. The “Sports Car of the Year” awards are an annual event that took place in 2010 for the eighth time.

“These wins for the SLS AMG and E 63 AMG confirm the popularity of our sports cars’ with customers. Both models embody the very highest level of fascination and performance – and the readers of Auto Bild Sportscars clearly feel the same way, too”, commented Christoph Jung, Strategic Project Manager SLS AMG, who accepted the award on behalf of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Since its world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2009 in Frankfurt/Main, the SLS AMG has won many major awards, most recently a gold Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany 2011. Here are just some of the other awards:

• “red dot design award”
• “iF product design award 2010″
• “Design Award 2010″ (Auto Bild)
• “Plus X Award”
• “Golden Steering Wheel 2009″ (Bild am Sonntag and Auto Bild)
• “The best cars”, super-sports category (auto motor und sport)
• Autonis “The most beautiful cars” (auto motor und sport)
• “Auto Trophy 2009″ and “Design Trophy” (Auto Zeitung)
• “Golden Classic Steering Wheel, Classic of the Future” (Auto Bild Klassik)
• “Most sporty cars of 2010″ (sport auto)
• “Internet Auto Award 2010″ (AutoScout24)
• “Best IAA New Product 2009“ (AutoScout24)
• “TOPauto 2010″ (Motor-Informations-Dienst)
• “GT Car of the Year” (Top Gear, GB)
• “Best Dream Machine” (MotorWeek TV’s Drivers’ Choice Award, USA)

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG dazzles with its exciting design and stunning technology. This includes an aluminium spaceframe body shell, AMG 6.3-litre front mid-engine with dry sump lubrication and an output of 420 kW (571 hp) along with 650 newton metres of torque, seven-speed double-clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement and a responsive sports suspension with aluminium double-wishbone axles. This unique combination of sophisticated technology helps to guarantee the highest level of driving dynamics. An AMG high-performance ceramic composite brake system is available as an option.

Characteristic features of the E 63 AMG include its powerful AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine with an output of 386 kW (525 hp) and 630 newton metres of torque, an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and AMG RIDE CONTROL sports suspension with electronically controlled damping and independent front axle. An AMG high-performance ceramic composite brake system is available as an option for both Saloon and Estate models of the E 63 AMG.

The top-class awards were presented to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, and to Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales and Marketing, at a ceremony held last night in Berlin.

This marked the 22nd occasion on which "Auto Zeitung" opened up annual voting for the best cars of the year. No fewer than 104,442 readers cast their votes, carrying the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class to victory as the best car of the year in the luxury class. As the global leader in this segment, Mercedes-Benz easily fended off its 19 competitors.

Since its market premiere in spring 2009, the new E-Class has successfully made a name for itself with its dynamic design, setting new standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and economy. Contributing to this success is a new generation of engines which operate at previously unattained levels of efficiency.

The E 250 CDI, for example, is equipped with a 150 kW (204 hp) engine generating 500 Nm of torque, which is 25 percent greater than the previous V6 diesel engine. At the same time, it consumes around 23 percent less fuel – only 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers (NEDC combined cycle), which corresponds to 139 grams of CO2 per kilometer. In addition to superior comfort on long journeys, the new E-Class also provides a unique combination of driver assistance systems including drowsiness detection, Adaptive High beam Assist and adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking, which is activated if an acute risk of an accident is detected. These same E-Class features are also available on the luxury-class saloon’s other family members – the E-Class Coupé and the E‑Class Estate, which has just been launched in its third body variant.

When it came to selecting the best super sports car, the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG emerged significantly ahead of its 18 competitors to take first place. In doing so, the youngest member of the Mercedes-Benz sports car family has now already secured its second first place thanks to reader votes after receiving the Golden Steering Wheel Award. Its exciting design featuring the gullwing doors evokes memories of the legendary 300 SL sports car from the 1950′s. The new super sports car also dazzles with its exquisite technology which includes such highlights as: aluminum spaceframe body shell, AMG 6.3-liter V8 front mid engine with dry sump lubrication as well as a maximum power of 420 kW (571 PS) and 650 Nm of torque, seven-speed double-clutch transmission in a transaxle arrangement and a sports suspension with aluminum double-wishbone axles. This high-tech combination helps to guarantee the highest level of driving dynamics. The Gullwing accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and has a top speed of 317 km/h. Combined fuel consumption is 13.2 liters per 100 kilometers (all figures are provisional).

Traditionally Mercedes-Benz vehicles always figure prominently in voting for the best cars in their age-group. In 2008 the Mercedes GLK was awarded the "Auto Trophy", while the year before this both the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and the S-Class came away with top honors.

Are you serious, an SLS AMG with electric drive? It appears Mercedes-AMG is developing a zero-emission high-tech drive for their high-performance AMG model range of sports cars. The drive system includes four electric motors positioned near the wheels with one transmission per axle that will transmit the power. Below is the official Mercedes-AMG press release dated July 16, 2009.

AMG Market/PR News from Mercedes-AMG/Affalterbach – Mercedes-AMG is paving the way ahead: with the new SLS AMG with electric drive, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars is developing an exciting super sports car with zero-emission high-tech drive. This model sees Mercedes-Benz and AMG displaying their expertise in the development of alternative drive solutions for high-performance super sports cars, delivering further proof of their pioneering status in this market segment.  [Non-Electric SLS AMG Gullwing Photo Gallery here.]

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with electric drive transforms the vision of powerful and locally emission-free super sports cars into reality thanks to an innovative drive system: powerful forwards thrust is provided by four electric motors with a combined peak output of 392 kW and a maximum torque of 880 Nm. The four electric motors are positioned near the wheels, substantially reducing the unsprung masses compared to wheel-hub motors. One transmission per axle transmits the power. This intelligent all-wheel-drive system allows dynamically optimized power transmission without any losses by means of Torque Vectoring – in other words the specifically targeted acceleration of individual wheels. In its first pilot phase, the SLS AMG with electric drive incorporates a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery of modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The 400-volt battery is charged by means of targeted recuperation during braking whilst the car is being driven.

Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds

When it comes to dynamics, the electrically driven SLS AMG delivers an unequivocal statement: the swing-wing model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds – putting it on the same high level as the SLS AMG with a 6.3-liter V8 engine developing 420 kW/571 hp.

“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Optimum weight distribution and low centre of gravity

The purely electric drive system was factored into the equation as early as the concept phase when the new swing-wing model was being developed by Mercedes-Benz and AMG. It is ideally packaged for the integration of the high-performance, zero-emission technology: by way of example, the four electric motors and the two transmissions can be positioned near the wheels and very low down in the vehicle. The same applies to the modular high-current battery, whose modules are located in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages of this solution include the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution – ideal conditions for optimum handling, which the electrically powered SLS AMG shares with its petrol-driven sister model.

Summary Key Data

The installation of the drive components required no changes whatsoever to the swing-wing model’s aluminum space-frame body. And there were just as few constraints when it came to maintaining the excellent level of passive safety and high degree of long-distance comfort that are hallmarks of Mercedes cars.

Strategic Alliance for Fast Electrification of the Car

The electrically powered SLS AMG sees Mercedes-Benz and AMG continuing to pursue their aim of minimizing the amount of time it takes to bring about the electrification of the car. Their strategic involvement in Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG, will provide the battery technology required in future. Daimler has the leading role in this joint venture for the development and production of batteries and battery systems for automotive applications.

Additional Resources
Crunchgear has a few spy shots of the electric SLS AMG here.