Rethink: Mercedes AMG SLS

2010 SLS AMG Mercedes-Benz

By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Daimler

BEING topical, as is our trend, ahem, ever since we posted the Jay Leno Rendezvous-sur-les-rues-de-LA flick, in which American Late Night’s most lauded or despised host (depends if you’re on Team Coco) and car guy extraordinaire threaded a cherry red 2010 SLS AMG Mercedes-Benz through the City of Angels mean streets, we’ve had a think on the SLS.

Originally, the jury was ambivalent.

On the one hand, there was the obvious ape of 50′s classic Benzanalia. A bevy of retro styling cues – those gullwing ports – brought back from the Kennedy years; days when  the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster was the most beautiful and fastest production car on the planet.

On the other, it was a return to grand form. A long nosed, tight-end roadster that broadcasts power and prestige in true tri-star fashion.

The McLaren SLR was supposed to be that resurrection nigh on a decade ago. Thanks to its enormous price tag, that hawk-nose, low-rent early 00′s Mercedes switchgear, fit ‘n finish, and Daimler’s touchy relations with McLaren, what was a tremendous supercharged exotic flopped horribly.

The SLS AMG seems like an apology in its wake.

But is this judgment, so summarily arrived at, truly fair?

In retrospect, no.

In the 2010 SLS, there’s a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox mated with a true, big-blog AMG built V8 – the kind that the gods of Vallhala intended. True, that raspy engine note is nowhere near as thrilling as McLaren’s psychotic air blown powerplant – but hey, ça marche!

I’m just waiting, itching, for a tête-à-tête between the two. That and a match up against Audi’s R8, would be delicious…