Mercedes has an electric SLS AMG in development that will probably take the title away from Tesla as the must have plug-in sports car. The new SLS AMG recalls past iconic Mercs with a sweeping body and gullwing doors. Plus, the performance and power output is on par with a current generation SLS AMG 6.3-liter V8 but this puppy doesn’t make Al Gore cry.[PSGallery=8sef10dre4b]
We all knew that Mercedes had electric car intentions when Damiler purchased a stake in Tesla a few months back. However it’s doubtful that this SLS has seen significant Tesla development just yet. Mercedes did buy that stake to gain access to the quick development cycle that inherently come with small companies. This car has probably been in the works for a while now.
The design is purely Mercedes Benz, but underneath is more Moon Rover meets Tesla. There are four electric motors placed just inside the suspension system that propels the car to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds. (The Roadster does it 3.9 seconds, btw) A row of batteries extends down the center of the vehicle’s frame in a Chevy Volt-fashion that doesn’t interfere with the car’s weight distribution and helps keep the center of gravity sports car-low.
We’re curious to hear what the cars range will be. The presser didn’t mention anything, but the four, smaller motors might translate into a similar range as the Tesla Roadster which has a higher capacity lithium-ion pack, but one large motor.
HP freaks should be content with the 392 kW output which translates into 525 HP. With that much horsepower, it seems like the 0-60 time should be a tad better, but we’re all slowly learning that electric cars are tuned differently than their gasoline counterparts. For instance, the new Tesla Roadster Sport features a hand-wound stator which increases the amount of current that passes through the motor and decreases the 0-60 speed from 3.9 seconds to 3.7 seconds.
Still, performance is measured differently by everyone and we’re curious to see how this car whips around the track with the batteries down the center, motors at each wheel and no transmission thanks to the electric drive. This SLS AMG is likely going to set the bar very high for electric supercars for sometime. It’s just a shame that the everyday man will not be able to enjoy this zero-emissions sports car as it’s likely going to be priced up in the stratosphere. It’s probably not that hard to develop a viable electric car when price is no object.
PRESS RELEASE:
New swing-wing model with purely electric high-tech drive system: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with electric drive – the exciting future of the super sports car
Affalterbach – Mercedes-AMG is paving the way ahead: with the new SLS AMG with electric drive, the performance brand within Mercedes-Benz Cars is developing an exciting super sports car with zero-emission high-tech drive. This model sees Mercedes-Benz and AMG displaying their expertise in the development of alternative drive solutions for high-performance super sports cars, delivering further proof of their pioneering status in this market segment.
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGwith electric drive transforms the vision of powerful and locally emission-free super sports cars into reality thanks to an innovative drive system: powerful forwards thrust is provided by four electric motors with a combined peak output of 392 kW and a maximum torque of 880 Nm. The four electric motors are positioned near the wheels, substantially reducing the unsprung masses compared to wheel-hub motors. One transmission per axle transmits the power. This intelligent all-wheel-drive system allows dynamically optimised power transmission without any losses by means of Torque Vectoring – in other words the specifically targeted acceleration of individual wheels. In its first pilot phase, the SLS AMG with electric drive incorporates a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery of modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The 400-volt battery is charged by means of targeted recuperation during braking whilst the car is being driven.Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds
When it comes to dynamics, the electrically driven SLS AMGdelivers an unequivocal statement: the swing-wing model accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds – putting it on the same high level as the SLS AMG with a 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 420 kW/571 hp.“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMGperformance,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.Optimum weight distribution and low centre of gravity
The purely electric drive system was factored into the equation as early as the concept phase when the new swing-wing model was being developed by Mercedes-Benz and AMG. It is ideally packaged for the integration of the high-performance, zero-emission technology: by way of example, the four electric motors and the two transmissions can be positioned near the wheels and very low down in the vehicle. The same applies to the modular high-current battery, whose modules are located in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats. Advantages of this solution include the vehicle’s low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution – ideal conditions for optimum handling, which the electrically powered SLS AMG shares with its petrol-driven sister model.Key data at a glance:
The electrically powered SLS AMG sees Mercedes-Benz and AMGcontinuing to pursue their aim of minimising the amount of time it takes to bring about the electrification of the car. Their strategic involvement in Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG, will provide the battery technology required in future. Daimler has the leading role in this joint venture for the development and production of batteries and battery systems for automotive applications.