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AMG has kicked off development of a powered-up and pared- down version of its soon-to-be-launched SLS following an official green light from Mercedes-Benz chairman Dieter Zetsche.

The new German super-coupe, tentatively due to go into limited production in 2013, is planned to join an exclusive range of Mercedes-Benz performance cars wearing the AMG Black Series name at a price, Stuttgart insiders hint.

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Bravo!

"The uprated V8 will continue to place drive through the SLS’s seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels"

Just found out that the gearbox in the SLS is not a dual clutch of the DSG/PDK type as previously believed. It remains the 7G-Tronic Automatic, without a torque converter (just like SL63 & New E63), but with 6 clutches in two packs of 3.

Still, I believe that the MP4-12C will show-up practically all supercars with its Carbon Tub, interconnected dampers that shun anti-roll bars, 0-62 in 3s and 0-100 < 7s; all for £150K ish. That makes it a bargain and an amazing feat!!

Agreed, I really don't think the other car manufacturers are going to know what has hit them when the MP4-12C starts getting reviewed and gets some real world numbers set. I know some people have commented on the MP4 looking a bit dull and not exotic enough but looking at the performance in just its base version it is going to be outstanding and really show up even these Black Series models... Just wait until the MP4 GTR comes out and then that will embarrass almost anything.

 Will Mercedes do their usual trick though and give the car headline grabbing power and torque figures that the chassis cannot cope with, and create a car that's just not that good to drive?.

 As for the McLaren MP4, I love the way it's aleady being praised as better than any other car in existance and how it's going to p*** on this car and s*** on that car before it's even gone into production.

Wouldn't it be better to wait for the car to be properly tested before praising it through the roof as the greatest car ever?.

But, don't you think compared to other recent cars launched that it's a bit conservative?a bit 1980's?

I quite like the styling - I think it owes a lot, proportions wise, to the Bristol Fighter. Merc seem to have a knack of building cars that age well. The current E is going to look, well, current, for a long time... I must report, with sadness, that my current 95' W124 E220 has finally reached the end of the road. I plan to replace it with an E34 535i BMW. Is this folly?

CAT3:

Just found out that the gearbox in the SLS is not a dual clutch of the DSG/PDK type as previously believed. It remains the 7G-Tronic Automatic, without a torque converter (just like SL63 & New E63), but with 6 clutches in two packs of 3.

Serious? I saw pictures of the SLS's transaxle and I'm sure it has two clutches (one small one within a larger one). See the official diagram below:

Are you guys so sure about Macca's numbers? It will take 2 more years before it's on sale. Talking about nothing, just predictions. 0-62 in 3 sec dead? Not a chance. Let's get back into reality. This SLS is not a piece of art from a styling perspective, but I find it amazing. For that amount of money, I would definitely go italian, though. A 458 or a Lambo.

4rephill & RednBlue

Keep your hair on!! The figures are estimates given by a number of magazines that have visited Mclaren, but they can't be far from the truth considering that Ferrari say the 458 Italia will crack 62 in "under 3.4s". When you consider that the estimated weight figs of the Mac will be more than 50kg lighter than the 458 (it's carbon, don't forget) and the Mac has far more power and (turbocharged) torque than the 458, then it's reasonable to assume that it will be suitably quicker than "less than 3.4s to 60".

With regards to my view that the Mac should be a fantastic car, put it this way: some of the best F1 designers/engineers/team principles in the business would not go through the trouble and attention to detail of spending millions on their first major in-house global project (since the incomparable Mac F1), designing it with the only Carbon tub in it's price sector, incorporating an innovative suspension system and finessing the aerodynamics, only to *** it up on the ride/steering/handling compromise.

And before anyone starts yelling about "look what they did to the MacMercSLR", I think we all know that the MacMerc project was really dictated by the Mercedes brief of building a fast, automatic GT. Mclaren now have a free reign to do what they want.

I also agree that the MP4-12C is not as flamboyant as it possibly could be and that the 458 is more visually stunning, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it's not a bad looking car at all - not a single ugly angle. Put into context, the last few Ferraris have not exactly been lookers, but they have still sold by the bucket load.

Like many people, I am truly excited about the MP4-12C and I really think Mclaren are onto something special here.

This is one cool car, well done Merc. Why dont BMW make somthing like this instead of a million different versions of the 3 series ! we only need a 335D and M3 thank you please !

Couldn't agree more , but it's not exactly ground breaking is it?, i mean Mclaren's new supercar, does it look like anything else?, no of course it doesn't, it's full of new ideas(to many to write about now), no, i just think the Merc's a tad too conservative, the rear reminds you of Lancia's and Alfa's from the 60's and layout wise which i think is the most condemming aspect, it reminds you of a Dodge Viper, Sorry Mercedes it's a 7/10 job, must try harder!