Hamann Gives the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG the Hawk Treatment

Mansory won’t be the only tuning firm to unveil its interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, as Hamann Motorsport has prepared its own version of the gull-winged supercar called the ‘Hawk’.

Starting with the engine bay, the SLS AMG’s 6.2-liter V8 engine receives an additional 65 horsepower, for a total of 636HP and a maximum torque of 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) at 4,850 rpm. The extra power comes from a high-performance titanium exhaust system, new manifolds, sports catalysts and a sports air filter. As a result, top speed is increased by 3 km/h higher to 320 km/h (199 mph), while the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes only 3.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the standard production car.

The Hamann Hawk also gets four height-adjustable dampers and four progressively wound springs, which lower the car by up to 30 mm.

The Everose Gold painted Hawk sports a heavily modified bodywork including a new front bumper and a carbon fiber hood. The profile is dominated by the black 21-inch rims and the side skirts. At the back, there’s a large wing made from carbon fiber, while the same lightweight material has been used on the new boot. The restyled rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and houses the quad tail pipes, completes the look.

As for the interior, Hamann has dressed the SLS AMG in a combination of suede and leather, and also added carbon fiber trim on the steering wheel, center console and door sills.

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Mansory Adds Carbon Fiber Body and 89 Ponies to Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Swiss aftermarket specialist Mansory has unveiled its take on the the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar and the result of their work is very different from what they began with. For starters, the tuners replaced the Gullwing-door model's aluminium bodyshell with a carbon fiber one, shaving 90 kg of the car's weight in the process.

The style is signed by Kourosh Mansory, owner and head designer of the company. Changes are extensive and include fitting new headlights (strikingly similar to those on the Ferrari 599), a new front spoiler with giant air intakes, a F1-inspired nose, lots of brake air ducts, a rear spoiler equipped with a huge air-diffuser plus an equally massive wing on the boot.

Called the Cormeum, Mansory's interpretation of the SLS AMG includes a modified engine that produces 660 hp (89 hp more than the production model) thanks to the fitting of a sports air filter, a custom exhaust system and the adjustment of high-performance compressors. And if that is not enough, Mansory is already testing a 800 hp performance upgrade.

The Cormeum rides 20 mm lower than the SLS AMG thanks to new dampers and springs, while the performance mods are rounded off with a set of 20-inch alloy wheels at the front and 21-inch at the back.

The German supercar's interior has been enhances with hand-stitched soft leather upholstery, carbon trim and aluminium pedals. Mansory's SLS AMG will be offered in a limited edition of 15 units.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Mansory via Worldcarfans

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Mercedes-Benz Shows New C-Class Coupe and SLS AMG Roadster in Super Bowl Spots

In an exclusive pre-game release and following a behind-the-scenes version that we showed you on Friday, Mercedes-Benz has published an extended cut edition of its Super Bowl XLV commercial called 'Welcome'. With this ad, the German automaker 'welcomes' four new additions to its range including the next generation SLK roadster and CLS 63 AMG, as well as two never before seen (at least not officially) models, the SLS AMG Roadster and the C-Class Coupe. The quartet of new Mercedes-Benz cars can be seen towards the end of the video, which is posted for your viewing pleasure after the break.

Mercedes-Benz Releases Official Details on All Electric SLS AMG Gullwing

In spite of the fact that we're still a couple of months away from the public unveiling the conventionally-powered SLS AMG Gullwing, Mercedes-Benz came out with an official release today confirming the development of an all-electric version of its forthcoming supercar. Mercedes did not say when the SLS AMG with electric-drive will enter production, but various reports citing inside sources suggest that sales could start as early as 2015.

Whereas the 'standard' SLS AMG comes with a front-mounted 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 571HP (420kW) and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque with power being delivered to the rear wheels through a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the zero-emissions Gullwing model is equipped with four electric motors that are positioned near the wheels and produced a combined output of 526HP (392kW) and a peak torque of 880Nm (649 lb-ft).

Mercedes says that one transmission per axle transmits the power with the intelligent all-wheel-drive system allowing the specifically targeted acceleration of individual wheels.

In terms of performance, the Stuttgart automaker claims that the all-electric SLS AMG is in par with its conventionally-powered sibling accelerating from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in around 4 seconds. This compares with the standard SLS AMG's 3.8 seconds and 315 km/h or 196 mph maximum speed.

During the first development phase, the pure-electric SLS AMG is equipped with a 400-volt liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery that is charged by means of targeted recuperation during braking whils the car is being driven. The battery modules are located in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats, a solution that is said to have advantages in the vehicle's low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution.

According to the German firm, the transformation of the SLS AMG into a pure-electric model required no changes whatsoever to the aluminium spaceframe body while the company also claims that there were very few constraints in concern of passive safety and long-distance comfort.

"With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car," said Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. "For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMGperformance."

Mercedes-Benz Shows New C-Class Coupe and SLS AMG Roadster in Super Bowl Spots

In an exclusive pre-game release and following a behind-the-scenes version that we showed you on Friday, Mercedes-Benz has published an extended cut edition of its Super Bowl XLV commercial called 'Welcome'. With this ad, the German automaker 'welcomes' four new additions to its range including the next generation SLK roadster and CLS 63 AMG, as well as two never before seen (at least not officially) models, the SLS AMG Roadster and the C-Class Coupe. The quartet of new Mercedes-Benz cars can be seen towards the end of the video, which is posted for your viewing pleasure after the break.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing Photo: Genuine or Fake?

Could this scanned photo from the latest issue of German car magazine, Autobild, be providing us with our fist look at the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing? Hard to say, but we reckon that even if the photo has been digitally tampered (aka Photoshoped), what you see here shouldn't be too far off from the production car that's slated to hit showrooms in the spring of 2010.

The SLR McLaren's replacement that is being developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, will be powered by a front mounted 6.3-liter V8 engine producing 571 HP.

According to a previous release from the Stuttgart-based automaker, the SLS AMG should hit the 100km/h (62mph) mark from standstill in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph.

Want to Drive the 2011 Mercedes SLS AMG Gulwing Supercar? Read On...

In a classic example of how press departments often miss the point / opportunity when it comes to marketing their own products and services, somewhere after the sixth paragraph in the release on the U.S. launch of the AMG academy this fall, Mercedes states: "Drivers attending the AMG Driving Academy Stage One at Laguna Seca Raceway from November 17-20 will have the opportunity to be among the very first to drive the most technologically advanced AMG ever – the all-new 2011 SLS AMG." Jeez, that should have been marked with big bold letters right in the title...

But anyways. For those of you residing in the States who are interested in test driving one of the most anticipated supercars of the year at the Laguna Seca race track, you'll have to sign up (see info below) for Merc's Stage 1 SLS program that demands a fee of $2,295 (roughly €1,650) which includes a one night stand stay at the InterContinental Hotel in Monterey.

Mercedes also offers two more programs for its AMG Driving Academy across three race tracks at Lime Rock Park, CT (September 9-15), Laguna Seca Raceway at Monterey, CA (November 7-8 & 17-20) and Palm Beach International Raceway at West Palm Beach, FL (September 22-27).

Aside from the aforementioned Stage 1 SLS, there's the one-day Stage I program designed to educate drivers on the fundamentals of performance driving dynamics and car control maneuvers (it'll cost you $1,895) and the Stage II which is a more comprehensive two-day program providing a deeper level of technical driver training, on and off the track. The latter costs $3,495 and is offered only to drivers that have completed Stage I or as Mercedes states, 'an equivalent course'.

Drivers attending these courses will have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of several AMG models including the all-new 2010 E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and the CLK63 AMG Black Series.

The fees mentioned above include a dinner reception, AMG Driving Academy certificate of program completion and an AMG gift bag. However, bear in mind that travel expenses and accommodations (expect for the Stage 1 SLS drive) are not included. If you want to learn more about the programs head over to AMG Academy's dedicated site or if you're the kind of person that prefers talking on the phone, you can contact Mercedes at 1-800-217-6916.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Takes Third Place in its First 24H Race

Mercedes-Benz completed the development and testing phase of its SLS AMG GT3 racecar last week by taking part in the Abu Dhabi 24-hour endurance race (January 13 to 15). All three participating teams managed to finish the race, with the number 7 Black Falcon vehicle driven by Thomas Jager, Jan Seyffarth, Kenneth Heyer, and Sean Paul Breslin claiming third place.

"It was a good team performance overall which was rewarded with a third place that we can be proud of," said Thomas Jäger. "Achieving a good finish for all three cars at the first attempt was an important affirmation for all those involved.".

The SLS AMG GT3 competing for Heico Motorsport with starting number 9, took seventh place overall, coming in 18 laps behind the winner, while Black Falcon's second gull-wing model finished 69 laps behind the winner to claim 24th place.

It's worth noting that all three SLS AMG GT3s in the 24H Dubai race sported the Ducati logo, which refers to the partnership agreed in November 2010 between Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Ducati Motor.

According to Mercredes-Benz, following homologation and specification of the balance of performance by the FIA worldwide governing body, delivery of the SLS AMG GT3 will commence at the end of February 2011 with the sales price set at be € 334,000 Euro (net) /€ 397,460 (incl. 19 % VAT).