2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz plans to launch the electrified version of SLS Gullwing in 2013.German engineering at its finest, the 2010 SLS AMG Gullwing model was one of the most popular sports cars of the year, garnering the "Golden Steering Wheel 2009" award.
Its upward swinging doors harkened back to the classic 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and it offers blistering performance with a top speed of 196 mph and 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of 3.8 seconds.
The electric version is shaping up to be every bit as hot, yielding little in the way of performance. Featuring similar stylings to the conventional model, the electric version is just beginning testing now, in preparation for the 2013 launch according to AutoCar.
Mercedes-Benz is targeting a flat 4 second 0-to-60 mph split and a range of 110 miles. To accomplish that, the car is equipped with four individual electric motors -- one on each wheel -- that offer a combined 525 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque. Those motors are fed by three lithium-ion packs.
Tweaking the performance of the beast will be a good challenge for Mercedes-Benz engineers. The three lithium-ion packs bump up the weight of the vehicle by 500 lbs. from the gasoline version bringing total weight to 4,100 pounds.
AMG head Volker Mornhinweg says that while the electric AMG will be a bit chunky, it will still be fun to ride. He describes, "Effectively being four-wheel-drive does alter its character, but our torque vectoring systems give us opportunities to make it as good. It's important to get the emotional level of an EV right and we have some solutions."
The price of the supercar has not yet been announced. Given that the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing retails for around $270,000 and electric cars typically cost more than gasoline cars, the price could be quite astronomical, though.
source: dailytech
