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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.

Worth your time?4.5/5Yes.Drive the whole thing.What works, what does not, who it is for ↓
10:28in productionCh. 1 · The First True AMG/ 10:28 · ceiling 15 min
6 chapters · 10:28Ceiling 15:00

The brief is written and checked. The video joins this page when it is cut.6 chapters · 2 min read · 10:28 planned

Read the brief

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.

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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.

3 more chaptersFewer chapters
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
Who should drive it, and who should skipHide who it is for
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.

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