automotivebriefs
10:28in productionCh. 1 · The First True AMG/ 10:28 · ceiling 15 min
Supercars · Sports cars

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Mark Fetherston · 2010

AMG’s first ground-up supercar wasn’t a detour—it was a declaration of independence from Mercedes’ mainstream engineering.

The SLS AMG is a decisive, uncompromising statement: AMG’s first self-contained supercar, lighter and faster on track than the SLR McLaren, powered by the most potent naturally aspirated V8 in series production at launch.

SupercarsSports carsCarsEngineeringRaceCars across the network →
Chapters & takeaways6
  1. 1:04
    The First True AMG

    It was AMG’s first car built entirely in-house—not a tuned version of an existing model.

  2. 2:15
    Lighter Than the SLR

    Front mid-engine layout and 1,619 kg curb weight gave it agility the heavier SLR McLaren lacked.

  3. 3:10
    The Last Big NA V8

    Its 563 hp naturally aspirated V8 was the most powerful production unit of its kind at launch.

  4. 4:35
    Track-Tested Superiority

    Faster on track than the SLR McLaren—for both amateurs and professionals.

  5. 5:54
    Electric Drive, Not Electric Shift

    The electric variant arrived in 2012—not as a replacement, but as a parallel experiment.

  6. 6:46
    A Defined End

    Production ended in 2014 with the GT Final Edition—no successor, no evolution, just closure.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

4.5/ 5
What works
  • front mid-engine layout
  • 1,619 kg curb weight
  • fixed seating
  • short shift throws
What does not
  • all-wheel drive
  • adaptive suspension as standard
  • luggage capacity
  • passenger accommodation beyond two
Drive it if
  • drivers who want a focused, analog-feeling supercar with proven track superiority over the SLR McLaren
  • buyers who accept compromises: no rear seat, no boot, no daily usability
Skip it if
  • collectors seeking rarity alone
  • buyers prioritising electric powertrains, comfort, or practicality
The written brief2 min read

What the car is and where it came from

A front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater sports car. The first Mercedes-Benz designed and built entirely by AMG. Developed with input from David Coulthard. Named SLS for ‘Super Leicht Sport’. Produced from 2010 to 2014.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It places the engine just behind the front axle for balanced weight distribution. The driver sits low, with direct steering feedback and a fixed driving position. Gullwing doors demand space to open but centralise mass. The naturally aspirated V8 delivers power linearly, without turbo lag.

What it gets right

It gets right the balance of lightness and rigidity: 1,619 kg with standard wheels—lighter than the SLR McLaren. It gets right the driver’s connection: fixed seating, short shift throws, and unfiltered steering. It gets right the statement: gullwing doors, front mid-engine layout, and a naturally aspirated V8 rated at 563 hp—the most powerful such production engine at launch.

What it does not

It does not offer all-wheel drive. It does not have adaptive suspension as standard. It does not accommodate luggage or passengers beyond two. It does not soften its track intent for comfort or convenience.

What it changed

It proved AMG could design and build a standalone supercar from scratch—not a modified Mercedes platform. It reset expectations for what an in-house performance division could achieve without relying on external partners like McLaren.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for drivers who want a focused, analog-feeling supercar with proven track superiority over the SLR McLaren—and who accept its compromises: no rear seat, no boot, no daily usability. It is not for collectors seeking rarity alone, nor for buyers prioritising electric powertrains, comfort, or practicality.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you value a pure, driver-focused supercar built entirely by AMG, with track capability verified against the SLR McLaren, and a design that prioritises lightness and mechanical honesty over hybrid complexity or daily usability.

Same garage · Supercars4 of 28
9:57
Koenigsegg CC8SChristian von Koenigsegg · 2002The CC8S is the first production car from Koenigsegg Automotive. It is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive targa top sports car built from 2002 to 2004 in six units. It introduced the dihedral synchro-helix doors and front-trunk roof stowage. It won the Guinness World Record for Most Powerful Production Engine and design awards from Red Dot and Utmärkt Svensk Form. It was developed from the CC prototype after eight years of research and development beginning in 1994. Chassis, suspension, brakes and other components were designed in-house. The pre-production car debuted at the 2000 Paris Auto Show. Its unique features include the front-trunk roof storage (unlike the Ferrari F50), the dihedral synchro-helix doors, and a central free-flowing exhaust based on the 'Rocket Cat Principle'. Christian von Koenigsegg and David Crafoord co-created the design concept.
8:58
Saleen S7Phil Frank · 2000The Saleen S7 is an American hand-built, high-performance sports car. It debuted on August 19, 2000, at the Monterey Historic Races. It was the first fully proprietary car produced by Saleen. Phil Frank contributed the body and interior CAD design and development. Its all-aluminium engine is a bored-and-stroked derivative of Ford's 351 Windsor small block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads. It is not based on the FE big-block. It produces 550 hp (410 kW) at 6,400 rpm.
9:26
Volkswagen W12Giorgetto Giugiaro · 1997The Volkswagen W12 was a series of five mid-engined concept cars developed by Volkswagen Passenger Cars between 1997 and 2001 in collaboration with Italdesign and Giorgetto Giugiaro, featuring a 5.6 L W12 engine and designed to showcase Volkswagen Group's supercar and high-performance engine capabilities; variants included the W12 Syncro Coupé (AWD), W12 Roadster (RWD), and W12 Nardò Coupé/Record Car (high-speed variant), with the latter setting a 24-hour endurance speed record at the Nardò Ring in 2002.
9:59
Alfa Romeo 8C CompetizioneWolfgang Egger · 2007The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a limited-production sports car developed by Alfa Romeo between 2007 and 2010. It was first shown as a concept at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show. Its name refers to its eight-cylinder engine and Alfa Romeo's racing pedigree. Maserati engineers created the production version using components from both Maserati and Ferrari. Development proceeded in parallel with the GranTurismo, and production coincided with the global crisis. Over 1,400 orders were received, but only 500 coupés and 329 spiders were delivered. It was designed by Wolfgang Egger and Daniele Gaglione at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, echoing styling from Alfa Romeo automobiles of the 1950s and 1960s.
Up next in Automotive

Mercedes-Benz W113

Paul Bracq · 1963 · 9:23

The Pagoda isn’t elegant — it’s resolved.

Play nextBack to Supercars
9:23