This super sports car serves up an exciting proposition with its unique technology package: aluminium spaceframe body with gullwing doors, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine developing 420 kW peak output and dry sump lubrication, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in a transaxle configuration and sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones.

The ideal front/rear weight distribution of 48 to 52 percent and the vehicle's low centre of gravity are testimony to the uncompromising sports car concept.

"Mercedes-Benz is presenting an exhilarating super sports car in the guise of the new SLS AMG, which is bound to set the pulses of all car enthusiasts racing that extra bit faster.

The SLS AMG is emotion pure and simple for the Mercedes-Benz brand and is set to become one of the most alluring sports cars of our era", says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

"Our customers will experience with the SLS AMG the expertise of our sports car manufacturer Mercedes-AMG, built up over 40 years of motor racing, along with the kind of scintillating design that only a top athlete from the Mercedes-Benz stable can offer", says Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG offers purist, distinctive styling, superior driving dynamics and hallmark Mercedes everyday practicality and safety.

During the development of the new 'Gullwing', the AMG developers placed their trust in the valuable know-how of the specialists from the Mercedes Technology Centre (MTC) in Sindelfingen.

The aim of this joint development was to turn the SLS AMG 'Gullwing' into the perfect synthesis of the strengths of the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands.

The radical design as a highly talented dynamic super sports car with its low-slung front-mid engine set well back also feeds through into the proportions as well as the optimised lightweight body concept: for the first time, Mercedes-Benz and AMG are presenting a car with an aluminium chassis and body.

Compared with the traditional steel design, this results in a significant weight saving, clearly illustrated in the planned DIN kerb weight of 1620 kilograms excluding driver.

The newly developed bodyshell comprises an aluminium spaceframe.

This exclusive design combines intelligent lightweight design with outstanding strength – thus delivering superlative driving dynamics.

Naturally, the aluminium spaceframe meets all the requirements in terms of passive safety and the hallmark Mercedes-Benz body quality that applies to any car sporting the Mercedes-Benz star.

Despite the low sitting position in typical sports car fashion, the wide-opening gullwing doors make it easy to get in and out of the vehicle.

The fine-tuned AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine achieves a peak output of 420 kW at 6800 rpm, thus turning the SLS AMG into one of the most powerful sports cars in its segment.

A power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp comes courtesy of the low vehicle weight.

The eight-cylinder naturally aspirated engine delivers maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm.

The 'Gullwing' accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 315 km/h (all figures are provisional).                                                                    Inspiration ... the 1954 300SL `Gullwing'

Bearing the internal designation M159, the V8 high-revving engine with its displacement of 6208 cubic centimetres has been thoroughly reengineered compared with the M156 entry-level engine and boasts all the hallmarks of powerful racing engines.

The principal measures in increasing output include the all-new intake system, the reworked valve train and camshafts, the use of flow-optimised tubular steel headers and the dethrottling of the exhaust system.

This results in much better cylinder charging, which feeds through into an increase in output to 420 kW with maximum torque of 650 Nm.

The eight-cylinder engine responds swiftly to movements of the accelerator pedal, demonstrating much more pronounced high-revving flexibility across the entire rev range.