2013 Mercedes SLS AMG GT revealed

Mercedes-Benz has revealed two additions to the SLS range with the Mercedes SLS AMG GT Coupe and Roadster with more power and cosmetic tweaks.

It’s almost exactly a year since we had the last addition to the Mercedes SLS range when MB took the roof off the Gullwing to give us the SLS AMG Roadster. And now the range of SLS road cars is about to double with the addition of a more powerful SLS Coupe and Roadster in the guise of the new Mercedes SLS AMG GT.

You won’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of car badges to know that the GT badge should mean something a bit livelier and a bit special. And when you bolt GT on to a car that is already a bit special and a bit lively it comes with real promise, a promise the SLS GT looks likely to deliver.

Under the bonnet the SLS AMG GT gets the same 6.2 litre V8 as the original SLS but with an extra 20bhp to liven things up a bit. That means a new output of 583bhp and a slightly improved (by 0.1 seconds) 0-62mph of 3.7 seconds and the same limited top speed of 199mph.

The already stiff SLS has been made even stiffer in the SLS GT (pick your driving roads carefully in the UK) with stiffer springs and dampers and you won’t be getting the option of ‘Comfort’ mode for plodding through traffic. Mercedes are recommending ‘Sport’ as the default mode in the SLS GT with ‘Sport Plus’ reserved for proper blatting.

Cosmetically the SLS AMG GT gets darkened headlights and tail lights, unique wheel colour and red brake calipers. The wing fins and star recess in the grill get a new gloss black finish which also finds its way on to the mirrors, bonnet fins and grills on the front wings, and the AMG logo gets ‘GT’ added to it.

Inside the SLS GT gets what Mercedes are calling ‘…the functional atmosphere of a racing car’ with lots of Alcantara, contrast red stitching on the leather, gloss black trim, red seat belts and a black faceplate for the instrument cluster with an upshift indicator with seven LEDs.

But you can up the ante on the interior with a new Designo Style pack that comes in single or two tone finishes with diamond design and cross stitching (think Bentley Mulliner). Other options include stuff like umpteen carbon fibre bits, ceramic brakes, AMG Performance media and B&O BeoSound AMG.

Interestingly, the US version of the press release for the SLS AMG GT seems to say that the US won’t be getting the regular SLS AMG any longer with the SLS GT being the only offering. In the UK and Europe Mercedes are clear that the SLS AMG GT Coupe and Roadster are additions to the SLS range. Odd.

We don’t have a UK price for the SLS AMG GT yet, but Mercedes want €204,680 for the Gullwing and €213,010 for the Roadster in Germany when sales start in October.