German Car Zone

Mercedes SLC Flügeltürer - Die Legende lebt - Sportscars - autobild.de#

Georg Kacher of Autobild has come up with detailed information of the forthcoming Mercedes-AMG SLC.

The pictures by Herr Huckfeldt are copyrighted so I won't post them to this message. Please go to Autobild.de to check them out.

As always, Herr Huckfeldt's pictures look promising but I somehow feel the proportions of the car depicted in the renderings are slightly off the mark. The test mules we have seen in other scoops showed a car with a much looooonger front-end.

I am a little worried about the SLC. It is due out in 2010 but it does not look like it has the performance to beat competitors such as the new Ferrari California. It looks like the California has the measure of the SLC on performance even before the SLC hits the showroom. The California is very similar to the SLC in terms of layout (front engine, transaxle gearbox, rear drive), dimensions, and weight. The performance figures speculated by Herr Kacher in the article are on par with the California. I think the AMG boys have a lot of work to do if the SLC is not to suffer the same cruel fate as the McMerc SLR. By that I mean, 'cheaper' models such as the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and the 599GTB can offer similar or even better performance than the McMerc SLR.

I am slightly disappointed that AMG is going to modify the current 7 speed automatic box to serve as the transaxle gearbox for the SLC. This begs the question, why Mercedes and AMG don't go the whole hog and put a brand new Double Clutch transaxle into the SLC??????? Why spend the money to engineer the now oldish 7 speed autobox into a transaxle that can handle the torque of the new twin-turbo V8 engine??????? The people who bought the SL65 Black Series would be mightily pissed off!

It's going to be the same scenario as the SLR and its antiquated 5 speed autobox when the competition had moved on to better transmissions and the Press is going to crucify Mercedes and AMG for this and sales will suffer.

A top speed of 315km/h must be computer-restricted and due to tyres. But a top speed of 315km/h is not going to set the world on fire nowadays.

Performance-wise, the SLC is not going to win any medals. It will probably be creamed by the GT-R, NSX, LF-A. But that's okay, they're not the real competitors of the SLC. But is the SLC going to be substantially better than the Ferrari California or a facelifted & upgraded 599GTB or the production version of the BMW Hommage? I highly doubt it.

Sadly, I don't think the SLC will be the world-beater that we hoped it would be. But the AMG boys still have time to make the SLC the car that could outrun a Ferrari California and scare a 997GT3 (if not the GT2) at the Nurburgring.

Let's hope they do.

So, where is this new information that Kacher has discovered? Thanks!

I would be quite hesitant to proffer any negative opinions on this car at this premature stage of the proceedings. You mentioned that the SLR was a step backwards when it debuted, and how the competition had moved onto better transmissions?

When the SLR debuted, its only real competitor was the Carrera GT - a car with a standard manual transmission. Just because Ferrari went its own way and developed its F1 transmission (which is still less-than-adequate for road use, I might add) and everybody else jumped onto the DSG bandwagon - doesn't mean that Mercedes was 'left behind'.

The SLR may have been a flawed supercar, but to this day, it still offers something which no other car manufacturer has managed to produce: a 600bhp+, automatic-equipped 'supercar.' I am curious as to why there is so much negativity towards Mercedes' 5-speed box, you'd think it was developed in the stone age! Clearly Mercedes' customers feel it is an acceptable transmission, and no doubt the (presumably) pre-sold SL65 BS will be a testament to this. Whilst I agree, that on a track, a standard automatic may be a hindering prospect, I do not believe it is the same disaster as you are portraying it to be. The CLK BS and C63 have gone some way to cementing over the 'old-school auto stereotype' amongst the press.

Beaten by the GT-R, NSX and LF-A? We've all heard the Z06 argument, and I don't think buyers will be that concerned...

The mule in this video is undoutedly carrying the 6.2 V8; N/A at that. Therefore, speculation of a Bi-Turbo V8 at this point is meaningless. We know it will eventually come, but how AMG decides to offer it is still a secret.



The same goes for the transmission. AMG's justification for making the MCT above the standard 7-speed auto was that it was cost-effective and a favourable mating of two different concepts. They did take 3 years developing it - so there must be some merit in this philosophy. I believe this same independent philosophy will be applied to this 'SLC' (or whatever it turns out to be). AMG would not put so much effort into re-engineering the 7-speed for the SLC unless there was again, some 'merit' in this configuration.

All in all, let's just wait and see is my approach.

From a realistic consumer's point of view, I would find real value on a MCT-type transmission and the fact that it is essentially a new transmission type operation-wise, based on a tried and tested platform of an automatic application. Having a completely new-to-Mercedes DCT-type transmission would seem appealing, but it is essentially a me-too product, and does not have the track record that the MCT would have.
I find that speculative comparisons and complaints about the SLR come from non-owner automotive enthusiasts (I am part of this group, btw) that are fueled by magazine articles, and not actual feedback from long- or mid-term vehicle owners. I suspect as a vehicle, SLR more than fulfilled the expectations of its eventual owners over the years.

Super cars tend to attract more because of their looks than the performance. Like I have said before the SLC will be more of a beauty queen rather than a track demon. Although the SLR wasn't the best super car of it's generation, its design happened to be the most distinctive one making it one hell of a design stunner. The SLC will be rolling down the same road and blossom into, what I hope will be, a breath taking car.

Where's the super mega Supercar of Death that HWA was supposed to develop ?

Purely for levity

Mercedes happened!

Must be in pipe line since a mere 540-550hp in a 1700kg car won't be very cool in 2010-2016.

If i remember right, the car was supposed to be the anti thesis of that (of the crap SLR actually).