Mercedes-Benz has released official information and a mega gallery of teaser and technical photos on its forthcoming SLS AMG supercar that will replace the outgoing SLR McLaren. This time, the German automaker has developed the SLS AMG in house as will part roads with McLaren with the end of the production of the SLR. Designed to revoke memories of Mercedes’ iconic 300 SL, the SLS AMG features an aluminum spaceframe body with gullwing doors while power will come from a front mounted 6.3-liter V8 engine from AMG delivering 571 HP.

The SLS AMG’s newly developed aluminum bodyshell comprises an aluminum spaceframe that helps keep the supercar’s weight low. In particular, Mercedes said that the planned DIN kerb weight of its new supercar will be around 1,620 kilograms or 3,671 lbs (excluding driver). Powering the SLS is a front-mounted, AMG-tuned 6.3-litre V8 engine that achieves a peak output of 571 hp at 6800 rpm. This results to a power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp comes. The naturally-aspirated eight-cylinder engine delivers maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. According to Mercedes, the ‘Gullwing’ accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph. Provisional fuel consumption for the SLS AMG is around 13.0lt per 100 kilometers or 18.09 mpg US. The V8 engine transfers its power to the rear wheels through a new AMG dual-clutch transmission with seven gears that’s mounted at the rear. The driver has a choice of four different driving modes, ranging from comfortable to extremely sporty, as well as a RACESTART function. Traction comes courtesy of the mechanical differential lock, which is integrated in the compact transmission casing. Stopping-power will be provided by high-performance composite brakes all-round while optional ceramic composite brakes with larger brake discs will also be available. The German supercar will be equipped with 19-inch light alloy wheels shod in 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear) tires.

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"Mercedes said that the testing phase of the vehicle will be complete by the end of 2009 with the ‘Gullwing’ launch set for spring 2010."

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi went ahead and officially released the topless Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro completing the range of the R8 supercar that was offered up until now exclusively in coupe form. Featuring a lightweight cloth top that automatically opens and closes with a touch of a button in 19 seconds, the R8 Spyder comes equipped with the most powerful engine in the R8 line-up, the 5.2-liter V10 that generates a hefty 525 horsepower.

Along with the hard top, the R8 Spyder lost the coupe’s trademark side blades but gained a anodized aluminum coating for the windscreen surround and a newly designed engine cover that houses two arched cowls, which extend to the spoiler lip and include large, integrated air vents. If you must know, the cover over the storage compartment for the cloth top, which by the way, is offered with a choice of three colors, is made from a carbon fiber composite material. Inside, what makes this R8 different (other than the fact that its passengers can have an unobtrusive view of the sky, that is), is the specific trim and some special goodies such as the leather for the seats which is colored with pigments to reflect the infrared component of sunlight keeping the seats up to 20 degrees Celsius cooler (always according to the automaker). The Spyder also comes equipped with a heated glass window, which is separate from the cloth top and can be raised and lowered at the press of a button, with the top up or down. as well as with an additional net-like wind deflector. Audi says that the soft top’s approximate weight is 30 kg (66 lb) while the necessary reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear wall, the floor pan and the A- and B-pillars, result in a weight increase of just 6 kilograms (13 lb) over the R8 Coupe. The overall weight of the Spyder 5.2 FSI with the manual transmission is 1,720 kg (3,792 lbs) or 100kg (220 lbs) more than the respective R8 Coupe model.The 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces 525 horsepower is coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional automatic six-speed transmission optionally that send power to all four wheels. Audi has announced a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.1 seconds, meaning that the Spyder is two-tenths of a second slower than the coupe. The Spyder hits the 200km/h (124mph) mark in 12.7 seconds while top speed is 313 km/h (195 mph) with the six-speed manual transmission. Those that opt for the stick shift will see a theoretical average consumption in the combined cycle of 14.9 lt/100km (15.8 US mpg). With R tronic, this figure improves to 13.9 liters (16.9 US mpg).

Gallery

"The open-top two-seater will be launched in its home market in the first quarter of 2010 with a base price of €156,400 which comes to around $228,600 USD with the current exchange rates."

Lambo Reventon Roadstar

Looks like it’ll be an all-out supercar showdown next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In addition to the McLaren MP4-12C and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – not to mention the Ferrari 458 Italia – Lamborghini will reportedly be showing off the roadster version of its million-plus dollar Reventón.

Sporting the same stealth fighter-inspired angular bodywork as the standard Reventón that was unveiled two years ago at the same auto show, the new topless Lambo will reportedly make use of its all-wheel drive system to help the run to 60 in just 3.4 seconds. Top speed is expected to be well over 200 miles per hour, as you’d expect from an Italian supercar with a mid-mounted 650-horsepower V12 powerplant.

Gallery

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz has released official information and a mega gallery of teaser and technical photos on its forthcoming SLS AMG supercar that will replace the outgoing SLR McLaren. This time, the German automaker has developed the SLS AMG in house as will part roads with McLaren with the end of the production of the SLR. Designed to revoke memories of Mercedes’ iconic 300 SL, the SLS AMG features an aluminum spaceframe body with gullwing doors while power will come from a front mounted 6.3-liter V8 engine from AMG delivering 571 HP.

The SLS AMG’s newly developed aluminum bodyshell comprises an aluminum spaceframe that helps keep the supercar’s weight low. In particular, Mercedes said that the planned DIN kerb weight of its new supercar will be around 1,620 kilograms or 3,671 lbs (excluding driver). Powering the SLS is a front-mounted, AMG-tuned 6.3-litre V8 engine that achieves a peak output of 571 hp at 6800 rpm. This results to a power-to-weight ratio of 2.84 kg/hp comes. The naturally-aspirated eight-cylinder engine delivers maximum torque of 650 Nm at 4750 rpm. According to Mercedes, the ‘Gullwing’ accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds, before going on to a top speed of 315 km/h or 196 mph. Provisional fuel consumption for the SLS AMG is around 13.0lt per 100 kilometers or 18.09 mpg US. The V8 engine transfers its power to the rear wheels through a new AMG dual-clutch transmission with seven gears that’s mounted at the rear. The driver has a choice of four different driving modes, ranging from comfortable to extremely sporty, as well as a RACESTART function. Traction comes courtesy of the mechanical differential lock, which is integrated in the compact transmission casing. Stopping-power will be provided by high-performance composite brakes all-round while optional ceramic composite brakes with larger brake discs will also be available. The German supercar will be equipped with 19-inch light alloy wheels shod in 265/35 R 19 (front) and 295/30 R 20 (rear) tires.

Gallery

"Mercedes said that the testing phase of the vehicle will be complete by the end of 2009 with the ‘Gullwing’ launch set for spring 2010."

Audi R8 Spyder

Audi went ahead and officially released the topless Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro completing the range of the R8 supercar that was offered up until now exclusively in coupe form. Featuring a lightweight cloth top that automatically opens and closes with a touch of a button in 19 seconds, the R8 Spyder comes equipped with the most powerful engine in the R8 line-up, the 5.2-liter V10 that generates a hefty 525 horsepower.

Along with the hard top, the R8 Spyder lost the coupe’s trademark side blades but gained a anodized aluminum coating for the windscreen surround and a newly designed engine cover that houses two arched cowls, which extend to the spoiler lip and include large, integrated air vents. If you must know, the cover over the storage compartment for the cloth top, which by the way, is offered with a choice of three colors, is made from a carbon fiber composite material. Inside, what makes this R8 different (other than the fact that its passengers can have an unobtrusive view of the sky, that is), is the specific trim and some special goodies such as the leather for the seats which is colored with pigments to reflect the infrared component of sunlight keeping the seats up to 20 degrees Celsius cooler (always according to the automaker). The Spyder also comes equipped with a heated glass window, which is separate from the cloth top and can be raised and lowered at the press of a button, with the top up or down. as well as with an additional net-like wind deflector. Audi says that the soft top’s approximate weight is 30 kg (66 lb) while the necessary reinforcements in the area of the sills, the center tunnel, the rear wall, the floor pan and the A- and B-pillars, result in a weight increase of just 6 kilograms (13 lb) over the R8 Coupe. The overall weight of the Spyder 5.2 FSI with the manual transmission is 1,720 kg (3,792 lbs) or 100kg (220 lbs) more than the respective R8 Coupe model.The 5.2-liter V10 engine that produces 525 horsepower is coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional automatic six-speed transmission optionally that send power to all four wheels. Audi has announced a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.1 seconds, meaning that the Spyder is two-tenths of a second slower than the coupe. The Spyder hits the 200km/h (124mph) mark in 12.7 seconds while top speed is 313 km/h (195 mph) with the six-speed manual transmission. Those that opt for the stick shift will see a theoretical average consumption in the combined cycle of 14.9 lt/100km (15.8 US mpg). With R tronic, this figure improves to 13.9 liters (16.9 US mpg).

Gallery

"The open-top two-seater will be launched in its home market in the first quarter of 2010 with a base price of €156,400 which comes to around $228,600 USD with the current exchange rates."

Lambo Reventon Roadstar

Looks like it’ll be an all-out supercar showdown next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In addition to the McLaren MP4-12C and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG – not to mention the Ferrari 458 Italia – Lamborghini will reportedly be showing off the roadster version of its million-plus dollar Reventón.

Sporting the same stealth fighter-inspired angular bodywork as the standard Reventón that was unveiled two years ago at the same auto show, the new topless Lambo will reportedly make use of its all-wheel drive system to help the run to 60 in just 3.4 seconds. Top speed is expected to be well over 200 miles per hour, as you’d expect from an Italian supercar with a mid-mounted 650-horsepower V12 powerplant.

Gallery