Yesterday we showed you a few leaked photos of the upcoming 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Although not the clearest photos in the world, they did show off a few of this car's more interesting highlights.
Well, we still can't show you production photos of our own, but we have the next best thing -- a detailed driving report from our man in Germany. He drove a nearly finished prototype on the Sachsenring race circuit and sent us a detailed report.
His conclusion? It may look retro, but it certainly doesn't drive that way.
First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
mrbacon says:
10:30 PM, 07/13/09
Hey Mercedes, ever heard of high-performance cars with manual transmissions?
No?
Well maybe you should check them out, d-bags.
estreka says:
11:40 PM, 07/13/09
The Gullwing will be the German equivalent of the Ford GT.
kyolml says:
12:09 AM, 07/14/09
1.38G skipad? what tires are on? Sounds good compared to last generation of super(expensive) cars.
manheimauction says:
01:22 AM, 07/14/09
The race also depends on the way you drive the car, the path way you good at..so we might hope for the next best version without "bugs"
fuhteng says:
07:07 AM, 07/14/09
estreka - you're absolutely right. I was trying to figure out what the car most reminded me of (besides being as ugly as an Aztek), and that is it. Good review too.
1.38 g? Yeah, right.
dougtheeng says:
07:18 AM, 07/14/09
I love this vehicle.
straight660 says:
07:56 AM, 07/14/09
cross between ferrari 250 LM and a viper
bankerdanny says:
08:09 AM, 07/14/09
I would love for someone to expand on the concept that aluminum is better for vibration damping than carbon fiber. This certainly doesn't match up with my experience going from a high performance bicycle with alumimum frame/handlebar/seatpost to a bike where all those components are carbon fiber.
The new bike transmits FAR less of the small imperfections than the old aluminum one did. I reused my wheels and seat on the new bike, so they play no part in the improved ride quality.
xblade says:
10:19 AM, 07/14/09
Did you guys bother to even read the article?
mrbacon, I am not sure what you would constitute as a manual transmission but this car has one. It is an Automated Manual Transmission. Just what it sounds like, a manual that gets shifted by the computer. 100 ms shifts are there thanks to the dual clutch setup. I'd take that over a driver shifted manual thank you.
As for the styling, they wanted to remain true to the 1950's 300SL, it is up to you to like it or not, but I think they did a good job.
dougtheeng says:
11:03 AM, 07/14/09
no real manual = fail.
mlh says:
12:29 PM, 07/14/09
re: "no real manual = fail"
I guess that means F1 cars are for sissies.
hondacura4 says:
02:30 PM, 07/14/09
"I would love for someone to expand on the concept that aluminum is better for vibration damping than carbon fiber."
Banker, I guess it could all depend on application as (you know) a bike and a $300K car are built very differently and to different standards.
mrbacon says:
10:47 PM, 07/15/09
A manual transmission, to me, is one where you operate a clutch pedal and a shifter. This car does not have that system, which is very disappointing. I think any sporty road-legal car should be available with a true manual. Automated manuals are great for dedicated race cars, because the speed of the shifting is all that matters in a race. The race track and the street are two very different places though.