0-100 km/h in 3.8 Seconds, Top Speed of 317 km/h

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is slated to go on sale in Europe in early 2010, succeeding the SLR McLaren as Mercedes' flagship model.

Development of the vehicle was handled by Mercedes' AMG division. It is powered by a specially tuned 6.3-liter V8 engine, delivering a maximum output of 571 horsepower and 66.3 kgm of torque. This is paired with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT-7 transmission, enabling it to achieve 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h.

With dimensions of 4638mm in length, 1939mm in width, and 1262mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2680mm, the car features a long hood and gullwing doors, echoing the style of the classic "SL 300" sports car. It also achieves a near-ideal sports car weight distribution of 47:53 front to rear.

The price in Germany is announced at 177,310 euros (approximately 23.6 million yen).

BRAND HISTORY
When tracing the history of automobiles, the pioneers we arrive at are two Germans: Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. It is hardly necessary to explain that between 1885 and 1886, these two men independently created gasoline-powered automobiles, laying the foundation for the automotive society. The automobile companies they founded were at times rivals, but to overcome the post-World War I recession, they joined forces, and the Daimler-Benz company was established through their merger in 1926.

The name "Mercedes," given to the products, originated when Emil Jellinek, a customer of Daimler's, requested that his eldest daughter's name be used in exchange for undertaking sales outside of Germany. It was registered as a trademark by Daimler in 1902.

Thus born, "Mercedes" and "Mercedes-Benz" have continued to lead the automotive world, consistently introducing cutting-edge technologies such as the safety passenger cell, airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), and Night View, driving the evolution of the automobile.