STUTTGART, Germany — A major marketing blitz for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG kicked off on Thursday, with the automaker describing the effort as "mildly mystical."
The European ad campaign for the SLS AMG includes an appearance by Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion who recently jumped ship from Ferrari, and includes the tagline "Is it still a car?" Production of the SLS AMG started on January 27, with sales set to begin in Europe on March 27, according to the automaker. The SLS AMG will cost the U.S. equivalent of $248,029 when it goes on sale in Europe.
Mercedes-Benz has beefed up its SLS AMG Web site with an interactive guided tour of the AMG development plant. Highlighted are the car's performance, lightweight construction and design.
Starting in February, a new iPhone application called "SLS AMG" will make its debut. It has "been designed to give players a taste of the new super sports car via 360-degree gameplay featuring the iPhone's innovative 'accelerometer' technology," said the automaker in a statement. The application is free for all iPhone models.
The SLS AMG will be featured in Gran Turismo 5, which is scheduled for release this year. "Mercedes-Benz gets to share a special honor — the super sports car will also grace the cover of Gran Turismo 5 as the first vehicle from a German manufacturer in the history of the game series," said the automaker.
Inside Line says: The hoopla begins for the long-anticipated launch of the SLS AMG. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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box1car says:
02:50 PM, 03/05/2011
First saw an SLR Gull Wing on a German Autobahn in 1958/59
Looked like a giant tortoise with twin pipes blaring from rear
I was cruising @150kmh on my BMW as it passed by effortlessly
Playing latest ad for SLS shown doing a barrell-roll thru a Canadian tunnel
when I realized an alternative music background worked as I was playing
Benny Goodman's "All Star Strut" solos by best Jazz musicians of late 30s
Mute road noise to get a cool blend of best of the old to go with best of class
BoxCar
neil25 says:
09:54 PM, 02/21/2010
Well I'm game for Mercedes' new line up. First, the Mercedes Black edition with all of the bad reviews about the suspension and the handling, its still sweet as chocolate chip cookies and I would not mind cruising in it with my wife. And then, the "new school Gullwing" with its 563hp and a 0-60 time of 3.7 sec. it's at the top of my list. Now, all they have to do is revamp their luxury line and redesign the Maybach and then put all three of them in MY GARAGE!!!
icecubefosho says:
03:57 PM, 01/29/2010
Also consider that the people who would purchase this would be more of the douchebag types who don't know a fine car. The Original is classes above this.
colorado1974 says:
10:57 AM, 01/29/2010
An ugly car that only cheapens the original. It looks like they badge-engineered a Viper and put an ugly front end on it.
Honestly, I expected more from Mercedes. After the new CL, this should have been a step up. I still think the new CL is the most beautiful car on the road.
compressor says:
09:39 AM, 01/29/2010
I for one like the back end best. In person, its elegant, subtle, and small. Modern cars seem to get bolder and/or chunkier year after year. Its nice to see this harken back to the days when the lines are cars were clean and didn't need excessive contouring/styling to hide the expanse of sheetmetal.
vwestchester says:
08:43 AM, 01/29/2010
Yea, first-gen Acura CL is the first thing I thought when I saw the rear-end, which was a fairly stylish import when new....I think if they boat-tailed it more like the originial Gullwing we would have had a winner all-around.
delraylocal says:
07:16 AM, 01/29/2010
The rearend on this car is ugly as sin.
Looks like the back of a new (and ugly) Acura.
The rest of it is pretty badass though, but I think I would prefer to ahh I don't know...own a house instead!
jpeyton89 says:
05:50 AM, 01/29/2010
Quick note on Gran Turismo 5, but Sony recently said that the launch would be delayed "indefinitely."
Still can't wait to drive the SLS though.
icecubefosho says:
08:29 PM, 01/28/2010
I'd still much rather restore an original Gullwing