As far as we know these are the very first pictures of the so-called SLC Gullwing revival prototype actually showing its 'gullwing' doors. Its existence rumored since the first prototype images surfaced in the American dessert over a year ago, the project, which is being developed by AMG partner in Deutsche Tourenwagon Masters (DTM) championship, HWA Racing, pays homage to the legendary 300 SL Gullwing from the fifties.
According to Car Magazine, the Gullwing will be aimed primarily at the Porsche 911 Turbo with a target price of roughly €150,000 – both a coupe (codenamed C197) and a roadster (codenamed R197) will be produced and it will be slightly smaller than the outgoing SLR.
Power will come from AMG's 6.2-litre V8 producing 550bhp and 445lb ft of torque, allowing the Gullwing to achieve 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds, maximum speed stands at 185mph.
The coupe is likely to make its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show with the roadster set to arrive a year later, there are only 6000 units of each model planned and is currently penciled in to cease production in 2013.
Mercedes SLC Gullwing Revivial Spied with Wing Doors Open
Mike in Germany c/o eMercedesbenz.com / Mercedes-Benz SLC Gullwing spy pic
First shots!
By Thami Masemola
August 1, 2008 1:43 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos
Comments
odysseus
August 1, 2008 1:50 PM
what ist happened to wcf? why aren't you the first who announces this kind of news? i saw this news already a few days ago on automotorundport.de!
BrianWCF
August 1, 2008 7:36 PM
So you're saying the thousands of people that visit WCF today, and don't speak German, won't find this story newsworthy anymore?
Although, we have our fair share of scoops, I think your expectations are a little too high. I'll take your comment as a compliment though. Thanks
pzigly
August 2, 2008 7:32 PM
Who cares if a story is a few days old on a prototype that is going to come out in a few years. I still get all the news here faster than I do my car mag and I pay for that! I think its great what WCF is doing, instead of going to many different sites to find news they do it for you and have forums for ppl to talk about them. If benz calls a Mag or site and tells them news about their car they will obviously have that news first. This site gets news it finds out for it self and news from others just like everyone else, but this site has the most news out of all of them. If I go anywhere and start talking about the SLC ppl wount know that im talking about. Trust me ur getting news here way before you will ever need it.
phobos
August 1, 2008 2:12 PM
i heard the SLC will replace the SLR..not as a 911 Turbo contender,MB already have the SL - Class to do that job... 6.2 ltr producing 550 hp that is week for a new super exotic car, the next e-63 class amg alone can produce 550 hp , is it me or the size of this prototype car is much smaller than the dodge viper mule, there is something wrong about the proportions...remind me of s2000 honda...anyone ?
AG4
August 1, 2008 3:32 PM
Isn't the 2 ton SL too luxurious and heavy to be a 911 Turbo competitor? The SL65 AMG for example weighs 2,120kg(4,664lb)! While the standard V8 SL500/SL500 weighs 4,220lb!
A 911 Turbo Cabriolet weighs 3,649lb. I guess Mercedes wants a lighter (purer)sportscar.
American-Rules
August 1, 2008 3:51 PM
It's a laugh. Competitor against Porsche 911 Turbo. Not even closed boys. Weighing over 2,100kg with only 550bhp. Maybe fast in straight line race, but too slow racing around corners. Lose some weight AMG!!!
sub39h
August 1, 2008 4:08 PM
let me get one thing straight, i am not an SL fan but it is the SL 63 AMG that is used as an F1 safety car and not a 911 turbo so it can't be all that bad ;)
fingt2
August 1, 2008 4:46 PM
...wonder why! Porsche isn't by any means (almost) involved in the F1 circus.
Xanavi23
August 5, 2008 4:34 AM
They were involved once upon a time...they won their first race ! hahaha Porsche is great, but despite winning Porsche needed money for their plans; the 911 was getting more and more costly and they also had their financial stability to take care of. Porsche would probably be better than Ferarri at F1 if they could have financially afforded it. Ferarri is in F1 because WAYY back in the 60s(or earlier?) Enzo sold his stock to FIAT because all he cared about was racing.
catchmyshadow
August 1, 2008 8:32 PM
The 997TT is still the benchmark. No current serial AMG Model can live with it and this won`t either.
smokeonit1
August 1, 2008 8:44 PM
these shots aren't spy shots! they look like sky shots, but they arent't! those are guerilla marketing shots made by mercedes!!! just like the last ones release 2 weeks ago....
the pix are shot on private property, with the photog standing in the middle of the premises!
since the shots made it to almost all blogs and publications it's safe to say that there's a pro behind this, thus the guerilla marketing aspect...
alessandro
August 1, 2008 9:50 PM
That Lehmann's image (third) is quit realistic if know MB design attitude.
Jamie.Matthews
August 1, 2008 11:36 PM
Why dont they rekindle the 60s sl300 beauty on top of an slr powerpland and mechanicals, if i had the money, id buy one of those
BabyMilo
August 2, 2008 2:40 AM
hmmm im not to sure about the general body shape of it... but i guess ill just wait and see
Andres2007
August 2, 2008 4:12 AM
It's gonna be a thing of beauty. I don't care if it doesn't match the 911's performance (it sure won't). It's going to be gorgeous. I want to see some chrome on the outside—that'd be really retro.
PS: American deSSert? PPS: It looks nothing like the R8 to me.
Wunderkind
August 2, 2008 7:08 AM
The testing mule looks like a Honda S2000 with the hardtop on. Is it going to be a beautiful car? Maybe......... Is it going to out-run the next Porsche 911 Turbo S? Probably not. Is this car going to be the success that we all hoped it would be? A definite NO. Should Mercedes quit making supercars after the SLC? Yes!!!!! The fact is, Mercedes has long forgotten the formula of making supercars. Previous attempts since the C112 in the early 1990's to the McLaren Mercedes SLR have all been big disappointments.
AG4
August 2, 2008 11:37 AM
The "L" in "SL" "SLK" "SLC" means "Leicht" or "Light". I really hope this new Mercedes sportscar can live up to its name.
rehanyf
August 2, 2008 12:04 PM
I'm guessing the last two images are renderings, and I prefer the 2nd one (the last picture) .. makes it look much more of a silver arrow than the first one .. the first is a little nostalgic though .. what say folks ? which rendering are you voting for ?
AG4
August 2, 2008 12:10 PM
I prefer the 1st one (the one inspired by the original SL300 Gullwing). The 2nd one looks too much like any new Mercedes.
Judging from the spy photos, it looks like its going to be close to the 1st rendering since it has a low bumper level grill.
AG4
August 2, 2008 12:12 PM
Correction: prefer the 1st one (the one inspired by the original 300SL Gullwing).
rtexal
August 2, 2008 7:54 PM
we need a light SLC, with a new design that is suitable as a homage to the 300 SL Gullwing(which was a real eye catcher), with SLR signature fins on the side. woohoo!
afterace2
August 3, 2008 9:44 PM
it is starting to look like something like the old 300 sl, and I think it will be a great looking model.
Bremen_Koenigsegg
August 4, 2008 12:27 AM
This rumor surfaced in an American dessert? I'd love to unearth automotive news in my apple pie.
Xanavi23
August 5, 2008 4:35 AM
I like it, although i was hoping it would actually be lightweight. I love the SL Class but as much as i love its VERY heavy. Its great for what it is, a highway bruiser that can clip many supercars. But around a track shes just too big.
andrewB
August 6, 2008 6:18 AM
thats a big change in a short time from that ugly looking dodge viper mule to this, its come a long way since a few months ago, the car still needs work to it, i reckon it will be a good model and something different. i say it will be part of the next SL range or a shoot off it
Xanavi23
August 6, 2008 7:25 AM
I really appreciate the TRUE gullwing doors, especially since i still love the original SL350 gullwing from the 50s. Such a gorgeous car to this day. You know what i dont get ? That was a luxury car, an SL but its name SL meant Sports Leiche, more or less-not germanbut it sounded like that. Sport Light in translation. And while i love the SL for the bruiser it is, its very far from what it started out as...a proper sportscar. Its my dream to see a full size SL(not SLK-good car though) go back to its roots and weigh no more than 3500lbs as the originals 2900lbs is never gonna happen.
JackJack
August 7, 2008 11:46 AM
With all this camo, it's difficult to see anything on this car, except the gullwings. Weight has always been an issue with Merc's always too heavy. This car needs to weigh in at about 3400 - 3600lbs (1500 - 1600 Kgs) to really compete in the sportscar market. Not a mammoth 4500+lbs range. But I guess Merc are more concerned with comfort, safety and style than weight. Power should be in excess of 550 or even 600 horses to seriously dent Ferrari and porsche's ego. They proved with the SL 65 AMG Black that it's possible to reduce weight and increase power and still have all the bells and whistles that Mercs are famous for.
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