Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test-drivers. Enjoy.
As luxury sports cars go, you're not going to find one that turns more heads or elicits more pointing fingers right now than the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. And it's about more than just its gullwing doors.
This six-figure trophy car also features an all-aluminum spaceframe, a normally aspirated, dry-sump V8 with over 560-horsepower, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with launch control, an aluminum double-wishbone suspension and two-piece brake rotors.
That's just the short list, and anyone who thinks this is just a warmed-over SL with fancy doors is dead wrong. It's more than just unique styling and high-priced parts. This AMG can run with the fastest of today's exotics. We wanted to find out just how well it would keep up, so we took it to our test track and ran the numbers. Does all that technology add up to a real sports car? See for yourself after the jump.
Vehicle: 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
Odometer: 2237
Date: 03/23/2010
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $N/A
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 7-speed auto clutch manual
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 6,208/379
Redline (rpm): 7,200
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 563 @ 6,800
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 479 @ 4,750
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc
Steering System: Speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion power steering
Suspension Type (front): Double wishbone, coil springs
Suspension Type (rear): Double wishbone, coil springs
Tire Size (front): 265/35ZR19
Tire Size (rear): 295/30ZR20
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: ContiSport Contact
Tire Type: Summer performance
Wheel Size: 19 x 9.5 front, 20 x 11 rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): alloy
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,787
Test Results:
0 - 30 (sec): 1.7
0 - 45 (sec): 2.6
0 - 60 (sec): 3.8
0 - 75 (sec): 5.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 11.6 @ 122.7
0 - 60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.5
30 - 0 (ft): 25
60 - 0 (ft): 98
Braking Rating: Excellent
Slalom (mph): 67.8
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.96
Handling Rating: Very Good
Db @ Idle: 54
Db @ Full Throttle: 89.9
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 67
Acceleration Comments: Even with the transmission in Drive, the SLS is deceptively quick and obviously FAST. Speed comes on gradually, then piles on endlessly. With "race start" selected the car rolls slightly off the line, allows slight wheelspin and cuts three-tenths off the 0-to-60-mph time and almost as much off the quarter-mile. Upshifts in race start mode are very quick but not harsh at all. Manual mode offers shift lights, but proved slower. Wheelspin with ESC off was virtually impossible, much to the chagrin of our editor in chief.
Braking Comments: Immediate bite and crazy effectiveness. Flat, short, consistent, straight. Pedal effort remained moderate to high, but not brutal.
Handling Comments: Slalom: This is a tough car to slalom. It's obviously tuned to drive from the rear and you must enter slow and gradually squeeze the throttle to keep the rear planted. Otherwise, it gets loose and I catch it, but I find myself late at the next cone. With ESC Sport, however, the car feels reined in and electronically limited (mostly with a closed throttle). The result is you can't steer it with the gas pedal. Skid pad: With ESC off, understeer sets in. Lifting the throttle diminishes it, but the car doesn't rotate as a result. With ESC Sport, the understeer goes away and I could feel the rear stepping out slightly all the way around. Funny thing is, I couldn't detect or feel any brake application. Steering is delicate and informative. Excellent weighting and response.
wrinklebump says:
07:51 PM, 03/23/10
That's an insane quarter mile. What an awesome car.
rohith says:
08:28 PM, 03/23/10
So is the car's difficulty in slaloming translate to poor transient responses in the real world or at the track?
lexuslvr says:
09:25 PM, 03/23/10
I hope there's a reason why this can't out handle a 4000 pound Audi S4 sedan?(68.8 mph btw)
stovt001 says:
09:54 PM, 03/23/10
I love this car!
johnferinal says:
10:17 PM, 03/23/10
What an ugly car. Mercedes has stepped down with their designing.
sherief says:
11:24 PM, 03/23/10
Do want.
m89 says:
11:54 PM, 03/23/10
LOVE THIS CAR!!! Words cannot begin to define the emotions I feel when I see this car - especially after just reading the test results. I wonder if they'll eventually put the new 5.5 twin turbo in it?
zjev says:
04:18 AM, 03/24/10
Only a track tested article again? Come on Edmunds. You guys have stopped doing cool full tests with videos. Instead all I see are these ridiculous how to stop a perfectly fine runaway Toyota videos. What happened?
1487 says:
06:00 AM, 03/24/10
aside from 0-60 and braking the performance is not impressive. That slalom speed is well off the pace of top sports cars and the quarter mile trap speed is slightly better than a base model Vette.
audisport says:
07:36 AM, 03/24/10
In my opinion, this car does not have the "it" factor. It used to be that anything that had the AMG logo affixed to it would make me drool. Not the case anymore. Hell, I would have drooled over an AMG engineered garbage can. Now, this car strikes me as overstyled and retro for no good reason. I would rather have a enw E class AMG sedan or wagon and spend the savings on more toys.
For this being a "supercar", i'll pass.
lmbvette says:
08:04 AM, 03/24/10
Wow, that's pretty quick! I'm very disappointed in the slalom though...yikes!
I wish GM would develop or buy an auto-clutch manual already........just think what that tranny would do in my CTS-V or a ZR1.....sigh.
cr_driver says:
08:30 AM, 03/24/10
1487 says:
06:00 AM, 03/24/10
"aside from 0-60 and braking the performance is not impressive. That slalom speed is well off the pace of top sports cars and the quarter mile trap speed is slightly better than a base model Vette."
http://www.insideline.com/chevrolet/corvette/2008/full-test-2008-chevrolet-corvette.html
The vette traps at 114.9mph. Give it or take.
This car traps at whopping 122.7mph..... I mean there`s quite a difference there.
How many cars trap over 122 mph? That`s an elite group indeed.
I don`t know how much this car costs, but I think its gonna be around $250k right? If it is, then I`ll take a ferrari 458 italia instead.
iskch says:
08:32 AM, 03/24/10
Just take 400lbs out of weight from the car and it will match or beat some sport cars.
thecubanratio says:
09:59 AM, 03/24/10
Hmmmm...this is odd: How did the 4,000 lb C63 AMG achieve a better slalom than the SLS?!?! I was expecting this car to get a low-mid 70s slalom, and the crazy braking performance (surprisingly even without the carbon ceramic brakes) obviously shows that it's not the tires either. I guess we can just wait for the performance results of MT & C&D to see what's up...
1487 says:
12:10 PM, 03/24/10
"The vette traps at 114.9mph. Give it or take."
I've seen trap speeds of 116-118mph. I think it was in MT. CTS-V can do it in 118. Z06 does it at 123mph according to IL.
cwalton1 says:
12:43 PM, 03/24/10
I should've mentioned that the slalom is but one test of a vehicle's handling characteristics. I think Dan Edmunds's (8:38?) lap of the 'Ring would suggest the car is set up for this sort of environment rather than the slalom. (I don't have the link handy, sorry). Super-neutral (or slightly oversteery) cars hate the rapid transitions of the slalom test. BTW, the previous-gen M3 was the same way and nobody complained about that. Also, stay tuned for more coverage of the SLS!
Chris Walton
xorbe says:
01:56 PM, 03/24/10
Using the roll-out figure as the HEADLINE??? I guess there goes the "we only report the figure since other sources report the figure, and yes we hate the roll-out figure because it's misleading."
fuhteng says:
02:20 PM, 03/24/10
I guess I'm underwhelmed. Sure, I wish it was in Forza 3 so I could play with it (and that fantastic engine it has) but other than that... meh.
firstwagon says:
02:21 PM, 03/24/10
I'd love to try one out but to be honest I can't really see the reason for this car (other then impressing your few neighbours that actually know what it is).
I can't see the grey haired boomers taking it to the drag stip and it's really not designed for the race track.
It will drive around in traffic at the same speed as every other Mercedes (slower then average).
Sad really, all that power and no where to go.
lt1boy says:
02:47 PM, 03/24/10
Beautiful car.
Performance wise, it should be right up there with the Z06 and the new Dodge Viper.
amaciejewski says:
04:37 PM, 03/24/10
That's quite a nice quarter mile! What an engine! It's a beautiful car though.
dextermorgan says:
06:35 PM, 03/24/10
Great #'s. But I'm still waiting on the Stig to take this thing around the TopGear circuit. Really anxious to see what Clarkson and the rest of the TopGear crew think of the SLS.
newsaabrange says:
09:38 AM, 03/25/10
Has a mazda back i actually didnt like it but the fron has a retro modern look which is merveilleux
kosmo69 says:
10:54 AM, 03/25/10
at nearly 3800lb its way too heavy. I'd rather the Ferrari 458 and Mclaren.
mmman2 says:
01:31 PM, 04/ 9/10
I like how it has an old school look but its new. They did a good job on that, this is a good car. But i bet it will cost you an arm and a leg.