The SLS AMG GT is an incredibly fast and rare supercar
that harkens back to the Gullwings of yore. It’s powered by a 6.2-liter
V-8 that makes 583 hp, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
transmission and rear-wheel drive. Got cash to burn? Opt for the Black
Series with 622 hp and other go-fast goodies. No matter your choice, the
SLS remains a Mercedes, replete with a luxurious, well-appointed
interior. The insanity concludes soon with the 2015 SLS AMG GT Final
Edition. Get yours now!
The arrival of the Black Series shouldn't indicate that the $200,000-plus SLS AMG GT is anything less than a supercar, however. With a dose of power and interior upgrades last year, the SLS AMG GT is every bit the design-forward, V-8-barking, gullwinged (in coupe form, at least) devil-in-a-suit it should be.
Drawing its heritage back to the famous racing SLs of the 1950s, the SLS AMG GT side-steps the retro-trend entirely, instead interpreting the long-nosed, cab-rearward proportions through a 21st-century lens--it looks sharp, sleek, and fast, even at a standstill. Inside, clean shapes and quality materials convey both luxury and sport, purpose and poise.
A refined yet ferocious 6.2-liter V-8 provides the power for the SLS AMG GT in both coupe and roadster forms, delivering 583 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. Despite the long nose, the front-mid engine position and rear-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox help push the weight distribution to 47-percent over the front axle and 53-percent over the rear. All of that power translates through the rear wheels to 3.7-second 0-60-mph runs and a top speed of 197 mph (electronically limited).
In the new SLS AMG Black Series, power rises to 622 horsepower, while an aggressive cam pushes torque down slightly to 468 pound-feet. Acceleration is even quicker, reaching 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, but owing to much more significant aerodynamic downforce, top speed is reduced to 196 mph. The power in the Black Series still comes from a 6.2-liter V-8, but it has been heavily modified to sustain that extra power, as well as a redline of 8,000 rpm.
In any version of the SLS AMG, be it the GT Coupe, Roadster, or Black Series, the cabin is much the same: there's room for two, but only just. If you're on the tall side of six feet, you'll find head room is limited at best, though leg room is generally good, and the seats are highly adjustable to suit most body types. In Coupe models, the gullwing doors will require shorter passengers to remember to grab the door handle on their way in--it requires a six-footer's arm span to reach the handles once already seated.
In the SLS AMG GT Roadster, the doors are more familiar, abut there's still limited storage space in the cabin and trunk, so even weekend trips will require appropriate planning.
Technology and features are, as you'd expect, quite extensive. Most of the car's features are controlled through the COMAND interface in the central display, itself ruled by a rotating knob flanked by buttons in the center console. It's not the most elegant display, but it's easy to learn and control on the move.
The SLS AMG GT, like most of its $200,000-plus brethren, hasn't been crash tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it is constructed with the same structural integrity engineering and safety equipment as other Mercedes-Benz models, and should be a fairly safe place in a crash.
EPA ratings for the SLS AMG GT reflect the car's performance and the unlikelihood of its use as a daily-driving long-distance commuter: the Coupe and Roadster models score 13 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. The even more potent SLS AMG Black Series rates 13/17/14 mpg.
If it's raw speed and unbridled performance you're after, look to the
SLS AMG Black Series. For those desiring a bit more balance between the
street and track sides of life, the SLS AMG GT Coupe is the pick. If
you'd like a healthy dose of speed with your stylish new red-carpet
ride, opt for the SLS AMG GT Roadster.
Why? They're listed above in descending order of to-the-limit performance, but all are unreasonably fast and (mostly) uncompromisingly good when pushed hard.
The SLS AMG Black Series is unquestionably the track demon of the group, born and bred with that task in mind. A ferocious version of the 6.2-liter V-8 shared across the range gains upgraded internal parts and a race-like tune to extract 622 horsepower and an 8,000-rpm redline for Black Series duty. The result is a powerplant that just begs to be thrashed--and gives no indication that the thrashing pains it.
The SLS AMG GT, in both coupe and roadster forms, yields 583 horsepower, but slightly more torque, making it more tractable in day-to-day driving, but still a potent force when fully uncorked.
In all forms of the car, you'll get a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, fitted with a mode-selector dial that offers Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Manual modes. The Comfort mode is well-suited to around-town use, shifting smoothly and unobtrusively to keep coffee in its cup and the passenger from noticing a thing. Sport mode kicks things up a notch, adding a barking downshift now and then, while Sport+ awakens a computerized race driver, almost telepathically selecting the proper gear even under the most taxing conditions. Manual mode puts the driver in full control through the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The combination of the smooth and quick transmission plus the strong standard 6.2-liter V-8 engine yields 0-60 mph times of 3.7 seconds for the SLS AMG GT Coupe and Roadster. The SLS AMG Black Series leverages its extra power and lighter-weight components for a 3.5-second run to the 60-mph mark. Due to the extra aerodynamic bits on the Black Series, however, it's a touch slower at top speed: 196 mph, versus the electronically limited 197-mph top speed of the standard models.
When it comes to dynamic response and handling, the SLS AMG GT doesn't disappoint. There's ample grip thanks to wide and grippy tires, though the overall balance tends toward a busy rear-end, wanting to step out at anything more than mild provocation from the throttle, particularly if you dare to engage Sport Handling mode (a single tap on the traction control button) or, even more bravely, to disable traction control altogether. At the absolute limits, the SLS AMG GT is a touch nervous, requiring a skilled driver to extract the best lap times. The SLS AMG Black Series tames this tail-happy tendency somewhat, despite the increased power, through even grippier tires, an electronically controlled rear differential, a slightly wider track, and improved suspension setup.
On the street, the Black Series' higher-performance tune is a bit more rough-and-tumble, though even the base SLS AMG GT models are firm and frisky over broken or rough-surfaced pavement.
All models offer the AMG Performance Media system that essentially puts an LCD face to your driving heroics. It translates lateral grip, acceleration, engine data and lap times into an ever-changing display that doubles as the car's navigation system when you blip out of AMG mode
Why? They're listed above in descending order of to-the-limit performance, but all are unreasonably fast and (mostly) uncompromisingly good when pushed hard.
The SLS AMG Black Series is unquestionably the track demon of the group, born and bred with that task in mind. A ferocious version of the 6.2-liter V-8 shared across the range gains upgraded internal parts and a race-like tune to extract 622 horsepower and an 8,000-rpm redline for Black Series duty. The result is a powerplant that just begs to be thrashed--and gives no indication that the thrashing pains it.
The SLS AMG GT, in both coupe and roadster forms, yields 583 horsepower, but slightly more torque, making it more tractable in day-to-day driving, but still a potent force when fully uncorked.
In all forms of the car, you'll get a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, fitted with a mode-selector dial that offers Comfort, Sport, Sport+, and Manual modes. The Comfort mode is well-suited to around-town use, shifting smoothly and unobtrusively to keep coffee in its cup and the passenger from noticing a thing. Sport mode kicks things up a notch, adding a barking downshift now and then, while Sport+ awakens a computerized race driver, almost telepathically selecting the proper gear even under the most taxing conditions. Manual mode puts the driver in full control through the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
The combination of the smooth and quick transmission plus the strong standard 6.2-liter V-8 engine yields 0-60 mph times of 3.7 seconds for the SLS AMG GT Coupe and Roadster. The SLS AMG Black Series leverages its extra power and lighter-weight components for a 3.5-second run to the 60-mph mark. Due to the extra aerodynamic bits on the Black Series, however, it's a touch slower at top speed: 196 mph, versus the electronically limited 197-mph top speed of the standard models.
When it comes to dynamic response and handling, the SLS AMG GT doesn't disappoint. There's ample grip thanks to wide and grippy tires, though the overall balance tends toward a busy rear-end, wanting to step out at anything more than mild provocation from the throttle, particularly if you dare to engage Sport Handling mode (a single tap on the traction control button) or, even more bravely, to disable traction control altogether. At the absolute limits, the SLS AMG GT is a touch nervous, requiring a skilled driver to extract the best lap times. The SLS AMG Black Series tames this tail-happy tendency somewhat, despite the increased power, through even grippier tires, an electronically controlled rear differential, a slightly wider track, and improved suspension setup.
On the street, the Black Series' higher-performance tune is a bit more rough-and-tumble, though even the base SLS AMG GT models are firm and frisky over broken or rough-surfaced pavement.
All models offer the AMG Performance Media system that essentially puts an LCD face to your driving heroics. It translates lateral grip, acceleration, engine data and lap times into an ever-changing display that doubles as the car's navigation system when you blip out of AMG mode
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT and Black Series offer carefully
selected sets of features, ensuring an experience befitting the
Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands, but without overburdening the car with
heavy, extraneous equipment.
There aren't any hot-stone massage seats, for example, but all models get standard leather upholstery (available in a beautifully stitched quilted pattern as an upgrade); COMAND infotainment with the center-mounted control knob; automatic climate control; heated power seats; power tilt/telescope steering wheel; rear parking sensors; a rearview camera; blind-spot monitoring; cruise control; and an AM/FM/DVD satellite radio system.
There aren't many options available, but what is offered tends to push the feature set further into luxury territory rather than upgrading the SLS AMG GT's sporting credentials, with one notable exception: the AMG Performance Media system.
While it doesn't make the car any faster, it might improve the driver. The AMG Performance Media system logs and displays performance metrics such as horsepower, torque, accelerator position, lateral and linear acceleration, braking performance, 0-60-mph times, quarter-mile times, and lap times. The system is activated by an AMG button in the center console, and controlled through the COMAND center.
On the other end of the options list sits the designo appearance and materials upgrades, which includes premium leather with beautiful hand-stitching among other upgrades. A Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system upgrades the listening experience, with a total of 11 speakers and 1,000 watts of output, including two 250-watt subwoofers and illuminated 50-watt tweeters mounted in the dash.
There aren't any hot-stone massage seats, for example, but all models get standard leather upholstery (available in a beautifully stitched quilted pattern as an upgrade); COMAND infotainment with the center-mounted control knob; automatic climate control; heated power seats; power tilt/telescope steering wheel; rear parking sensors; a rearview camera; blind-spot monitoring; cruise control; and an AM/FM/DVD satellite radio system.
There aren't many options available, but what is offered tends to push the feature set further into luxury territory rather than upgrading the SLS AMG GT's sporting credentials, with one notable exception: the AMG Performance Media system.
While it doesn't make the car any faster, it might improve the driver. The AMG Performance Media system logs and displays performance metrics such as horsepower, torque, accelerator position, lateral and linear acceleration, braking performance, 0-60-mph times, quarter-mile times, and lap times. The system is activated by an AMG button in the center console, and controlled through the COMAND center.
On the other end of the options list sits the designo appearance and materials upgrades, which includes premium leather with beautiful hand-stitching among other upgrades. A Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system upgrades the listening experience, with a total of 11 speakers and 1,000 watts of output, including two 250-watt subwoofers and illuminated 50-watt tweeters mounted in the dash.
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