2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test A Beast Without a Purpose?The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is an interesting beast. When I first saw the car, my initial reaction was DAMN, they did good with this one. Then I drove it, and my reaction was DAMN, what did they do to this car, and whom did they build it for? The styling says distinguished gentleman, but the driving experience says 20-something tuner kid. The 2013 SLS GT gets a 20 horsepower bump to 583 hp, while torque remains unchanged at 479 lb-ft. AMG's speedshift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission remains, but the adaptive suspension has also been updated, giving you Sport and Sport+ only.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test
 |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test |
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test
 |
| 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test |
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT First Test
That bump in power doesn't change straight line performance numbers. The SLS had problems putting the power down before it got 20 additional ponies. The sprint to 60 takes 3.7 seconds, while the quarter mile was completed in 11.7 seconds at 124.5 mph, almost identical numbers to the other two SLS vehicles we tested. It was tough to get consistent numbers because the car launched differently on every run, even when using Race Start. We did see improvements in figure-eight numbers. The SLS AMG GT hit 23.9 at 0.87 g (avg) with a lateral acceleration of 1.04 g (avg), the best numbers we have seen out of an SLS. Our major complaint was the SLS' wiggle-happy rear end. It liked to wiggle everywhere -- entering a corner, tracking through a corner, and especially when exiting a corner. The SLS GT is slightly more composed. When you push the SLS GT, it feels heavy and displays some characteristics of a mid-engine, rear-drive car as well as those of a front-engine, rear-drive vehicle. And those characteristics seem to always be arguing with each other. The adjustable suspension settings aren't ideal. The default setting when the car starts is Sport. Sport+ is even stiffer, but the last thing you need is a setting stiffer than Sport, which should be the final setting, with one or two settings below it. Few, if any, individuals who can afford this car are going to enjoy how tightly sprung this vehicle is.
It's not all bad. Given a massive black lake or a slate pool table-smooth road, the SLS GT is one of the most smile-inducing, smoke-generating vehicles you can play with, and it sounds amazing. But it's an absolute handful if you're trying to put together a clean hot lap around a track. This isn't a car in which you can just hop in and go fast -- you have to learn what it likes and how it reacts, because it's different than most other cars. At the end of the day I'm very confused about this car. The individual who can afford the SLS GT and will appreciate the styling won't care much for the overly stiff suspension. Those who might like this stiffly sprung ride probably can't afford it. Not having a Comfort setting makes it that much more annoying. Which brings me back full circle: Whom is this car designed for? But there is hope. Mercedes is giving the 2013 SLS GT the Black Series treatment. This car will have the most powerful engine of any Mercedes currently on sale, though it won't have the torque of the twin-turbo V-12. Let's hope the magicians who have created such amazing machines as the CLK Black Series and one of my favorite cars ever, the C63 Black Series, can work their magic with the SLS. It's going to need a lot of work to feel as good as either of those cars.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT
BASE PRICE $202,105
PRICE AS TESTED $224,855
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE 6.2L/583-hp/479-lb-ft DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-clutch auto.
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3804 lb (46/54%)
WHEELBASE 105.5 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 182.6 x 76.3 x 49.7 in
0-60 MPH 3.7 sec
QUARTER MILE 11.7 sec @ 124.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.04 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 23.9 sec @ 0.87 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 13/19 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 259/177 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 1.28 lb/mile
It's not all bad. Given a massive black lake or a slate pool table-smooth road, the SLS GT is one of the most smile-inducing, smoke-generating vehicles you can play with, and it sounds amazing. But it's an absolute handful if you're trying to put together a clean hot lap around a track. This isn't a car in which you can just hop in and go fast -- you have to learn what it likes and how it reacts, because it's different than most other cars. At the end of the day I'm very confused about this car. The individual who can afford the SLS GT and will appreciate the styling won't care much for the overly stiff suspension. Those who might like this stiffly sprung ride probably can't afford it. Not having a Comfort setting makes it that much more annoying. Which brings me back full circle: Whom is this car designed for? But there is hope. Mercedes is giving the 2013 SLS GT the Black Series treatment. This car will have the most powerful engine of any Mercedes currently on sale, though it won't have the torque of the twin-turbo V-12. Let's hope the magicians who have created such amazing machines as the CLK Black Series and one of my favorite cars ever, the C63 Black Series, can work their magic with the SLS. It's going to need a lot of work to feel as good as either of those cars.
2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT
BASE PRICE $202,105
PRICE AS TESTED $224,855
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE 6.2L/583-hp/479-lb-ft DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-clutch auto.
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3804 lb (46/54%)
WHEELBASE 105.5 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 182.6 x 76.3 x 49.7 in
0-60 MPH 3.7 sec
QUARTER MILE 11.7 sec @ 124.5 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 107 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 1.04 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 23.9 sec @ 0.87 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 13/19 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 259/177 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 1.28 lb/mile
