We’ve come to know it as the Mercedes-Benz SLC, but rumors floating in the air from across the pond say it might end up wearing the GT AMG moniker; whatever the brand with the star calls it, this supercar will in some way replace the four-year old SLS AMG, the production of which will end next summer.
We say “in some way”, because while the SLC (we’ll call it that for now to avoid confusing you), will become Merc’s top sports car offering, it won’t be a direct successor to the SLS AMG as it will be smaller, lighter, less exclusive (out go the ‘Gullwing’ style doors), and more affordable than the current car.
That doesn’t mean you can run your hands and prepare to swap your C-Class in for the SLC, but with a starting price rumored (not yet confirmed) to hover just above the $100,000 mark compared to the SLS AMG’s $200,000 entry MSRP (or €190,000 in Germany), it will bring Mercedes to Porsche 911 Carrera S and Turbo and Audi R8 territory.
Believed to utilize a shorter and modified version of the SLS’ still fresh aluminum spaceframe architecture, the SLC will carry a new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 instead of the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 found under the bonnet of the Gullwing model.
The front-mounted unit will likely be offered in different outputs, depending on the version, but always linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox operated with steering wheel paddle shifters and positioned within the rear axle assembly to achieve a better weight balance between the two ends.
In its base configuration, the V8 should produce close to 500-horses and around 600 in the more hardcore versions like the Black Edition.
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