How many SLS AMGs were ever produced?
By
Vroomouk
This article will answer the following questions: How many SLS AMG were produced? What are the special features of SLS AMG? What are the specifications of SLS AMG? Should you buy the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG? How was AMG formed?
How many SLS AMGs were ever produced?
The real production numbers of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG model series R197 are not disclosed by Mercedes Benz. unofficially it is said that Mercedes Benz AMG shipped almost 2700 models in the USA including the coupe and the convertible roadster model.
Globally the total production figure is predicted to have exceeded 6,500 units which is more than the initial production limit set by Mercedes Benz. The production run of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG lasted for 5 years and due to the popularity of the car, Mercedes Benz decided to release a final edition of the SLS AMG which was based on the updated AMG SLS GT model launched in 2014.
The final edition of the SLS AMG was limited to only 350 units and it is the most sought-after car by car collectors and car enthusiasts alike. The final edition is more popular than the Mercedes Benz SLS black series which was manufactured from 2013 to 2015 and only 130 units were sold in the American market.
The black series in AMG is for customers who are not satisfied with the already adequate power available in the standard AMG. It is known for modifying already existing AMG models and extracting even more performance out of the engines. Starting back in 2006, a selected few engine builders in the AMG Affalterbach factory were authorised to manufacture the black series engines.
What are the special features of Mercedes Benz SLS AMG?
Following are some of the special features of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG:
The Gullwing doors open upwards and the door hinges are located on the roof of the car. Mercedes Benz AMG redesigned the hinges and door lifters to fit in a narrow space and keep the height of the car to a minimum.
The Gullwing door is probably the most iconic feature as it is also based on the gull-wing doors used in the 1950s Mercedes Benz 300 SL. but unlike the 300 SL. the steering wheel in the SLS does not fold to allow for easier entry and exit.
- Active rear spoiler
The Mercedes Benz SLS has an active rear spoiler on the tailgate. It is actuated by two electrical actuators and it can also be controlled from a switch on the centre console. The rear spoiler fits perfectly into the tailgate and does not come out when the vehicle is at a standstill. For high speeds, the angle of the rear spoiler generates additional downforce and under braking it can act as an air brake, slowing the car more quickly.
- Naturally aspirated engine
The engine in the SLS AMG is hand-built, it is also the most powerful naturally aspirated production engine in the world. The M159 is a 6.3 litres V8 engine producing more than 600 horsepower and 650 NM of torque. The most unique feature of the M159 is the dry-sump lubrication.
There is no conventional oil pan at the bottom of the engine. Engine oil is stored in a separate oil reservoir and two oil pumps do the work of sucking the engine oil from the engine and pumping it from the reservoir. The dry-sump lubrication ensures engine oil is always lubricating the moving parts even under high cornering speeds.
The engine is also mounted as low as possible to achieve a lower centre of gravity. It is mounted behind the front axle which makes the SLS a front mid-engine sports car.
What are the specifications of Mercedes Benz SLS AMG?
The Specifications of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG are listed in the table below:
| Specifications | Mercedes Benz SLS AMG |
| Production year | 2010–2015 |
| Power output | 600 hp |
| Engine | 6.2 L M159 DOHC V8 |
| Starting price | $22158 |
| 0 – 62 miles per hour | 3.8 seconds |
| Top speed | 196 mph |
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG was unveiled in 2009 and put into production in the latter year. Mercedes Benz wanted to keep SLS on a limited production run to maintain its exclusivity. It was also the spiritual successor of the 1950s Mercedes Benz 300 SL and had similar gullwing doors with door hinges on the roof.
The Mercedes Benz SLS was initially launched in a two-door sports coupe and later a roadster version with conventional doors was introduced. All the production of the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG took place at the Mercedes Benz’s biggest production factory at Sindelfingen, Germany while the engines were hand-built in the Mercedes Benz AMG’s Affalterbach factory.
Should you Buy a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG?
Yes, you should definitely buy a Mercedes Benz AMG as it can cost only 100,000 USD in a used car market. For that price, it offers some serious performance and the naturally aspirated V8 engine is still used in the GT3 cars.
Mercedes Benz SLS AMG was very well received in the domestic as well as international markets and it also helped cement AMG’s image as an individual Carmaker and not just a tuner of Mercedes Benz AMG cars.
How was AMG formed?
AMG initial started as an individual tuner of the Mercedes Benz car, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher were two Mercedes Benz engineers who started tuning Mercedes Benz SL and earlier S class by installing bore-up kits and high lift camshaft in the standard Mercedes Benz car.
The result was an extremely fast car and they also sold a custom manual gearbox and AMG wheels which made the overall design of the car very unique. Aufrecht & Melcher increased the displacement of the V8 engine in the original S class to 6.8 litres and the overall output was almost doubled to 430 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque.
They also participated in a motorsports racing series with this car and the result was a total dominating victory in the debut race and overall second finish in the complete championship.
After the success of the modified S class which was also called Red Pig due to its sheer size, Many customers wanted the modification on their Mercedes Benz cars.
Other articles about Mercedes Benz you may be interested in
Which Mercedes Benz models are exotic?
Which Mercedes Benz models can be used as delivery trucks?
Conclusion
The SLS AMG is the first sports car developed by AMG and it is said the car was under development for more than 7 years. It is worth buying the SLS AMG even today as the prices are predicted to keep on increasing in the used supercar market.
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