Smaller Mercedes-Benz SLS Sibling Confirmed

Christoph Jung, development director of performance division AMG revealed that Mercedes-Benz is planning a smaller, less expensive sibling to the Mercedes SLS supercar. According to Jung, “There is room for an AMG model below the SLS, targeting the Porsche 911. This is the next market for AMG, and we are considering what is the right package. It is important to work on our brand and grow it."

Although this new sports car is only in the early stages, Jung did reveal a few details to AutoExpress. To keep it from becoming to heavy, it will have only two seats and as stated by Jung, “It has to be a V8. We have heritage and customers expect it.”

According to AutoExpress, the egnine will “most likely a development of the firm’s latest 5.5-litre twin-turbo, this engine would produce up to 500bhp, driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. Expect 0-60mph in four seconds and a top speed of 185mph. “We have to have performance figures close to competitors, but we need much more,” Jung told us. “We need it to sound right and go right. It can’t just be the most powerful. It has to have the whole package.”

The new model is also likely to be highly efficient, boasting stop-start and other efficiency-boosting measures.

A coupe is a certainty, and a roadster could join it. “When you are new to a market, you can only offer one or two variants. You can’t expect to do more than that from the start.”

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