Now that we've seen the doors in action, we're comfortable calling this new coupe the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLC Gullwing. It's not likely to carry such a clumsy name into production, but it might as well, because the doors are the story here.
An obvious homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL produced from 1955-'63 (just 1,400 gullwing coupes were built), this new coupe will combine unique styling with supercar performance. We've seen these prototypes of the SLC Gullwing before on the Nürburgring, but now we've got some even more revealing footage from Death Valley.
Most of the more ridiculous camouflage is gone, revealing a still-bulbous nose but more shapely bodywork further back. It's pretty clear that the defining feature of this car will be its gullwing doors, although up until this point we hadn't yet seen them in action. Some clever camouflage around the B-pillar disguises the rear window line, which actually slopes down far more aggressively into the short trunk section.
Although the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series will use a twin-turbo V12, the SLC will most likely get a turbocharged V8 with similar horsepower. A fortified version of Mercedes' new MCT seven-speed automatic is the most likely transmission.
With production of the SL65 AMG Black Series still several months off, the introduction of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLC is still at least a year away. This puts its start of production sometime in 2010. That should be soon enough to fill the gap left by the soon-to-be-departed SLR, yet far enough out to let any bad taste left by the failed McLaren/Mercedes collaboration fade away.
See new Mercedes Benz models
See future Mercedes Benz models
An obvious homage to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL produced from 1955-'63 (just 1,400 gullwing coupes were built), this new coupe will combine unique styling with supercar performance. We've seen these prototypes of the SLC Gullwing before on the Nürburgring, but now we've got some even more revealing footage from Death Valley.
Most of the more ridiculous camouflage is gone, revealing a still-bulbous nose but more shapely bodywork further back. It's pretty clear that the defining feature of this car will be its gullwing doors, although up until this point we hadn't yet seen them in action. Some clever camouflage around the B-pillar disguises the rear window line, which actually slopes down far more aggressively into the short trunk section.
Although the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series will use a twin-turbo V12, the SLC will most likely get a turbocharged V8 with similar horsepower. A fortified version of Mercedes' new MCT seven-speed automatic is the most likely transmission.
With production of the SL65 AMG Black Series still several months off, the introduction of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLC is still at least a year away. This puts its start of production sometime in 2010. That should be soon enough to fill the gap left by the soon-to-be-departed SLR, yet far enough out to let any bad taste left by the failed McLaren/Mercedes collaboration fade away.
See new Mercedes Benz models
See future Mercedes Benz models
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