While the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has only been on sale in the U.S. for a couple years, it's already getting a refresh -- and a new name. The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT will roll into showrooms with slightly more power, a tweaked suspension, and an available designo interior package.
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The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT replaces all previous SLS AMG versions, so don't think of it as a warmed-up model like the Audi R8 GT - even though there is a power boost to the tune of 20 horses, bringing the total from its naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 to 583 hp (torque remains at 479 lb-ft). EPA-rated city and fuel economy is expected to remain at 14/20 mpg city/highway, though drivers shouldn't get anywhere close to those numbers if they take advantage of that V-8 engine as they should. Top speed remains at an electronically limited 197 mph and Mercedes figures the 0-60 mph time is now 3.6 seconds, down a tenth from the automaker's estimate for the 2012 SLS AMG. In our First Test of the SLS AMG coupe, we already clocked the car accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
What potential owners are more likely to notice is the revised seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which has what Mercedes claims are "significantly" shortened reaction times in manual mode. Perhaps even more important, the transmission's double-clutching function when executing downshifts is more pronounced, making the most of that 6.2-liter V-8's soundtrack.
What good would a supercar be, though, if its captivating engine note wasn't matched by traffic-stopping looks? For the 2013 SLS AMG GT model, Mercedes has darkened the car's headlights and added red-painted brake calipers. The side mirrors now have a high-gloss black finish, just like the front fenders.
A stiffer version of the AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension has more aggressive spring/damper tuning than before. Mercedes says that the suspension system -- with Sport and Sport plus settings -- minimizes body roll and will allow for faster lap times, especially in Sport plus mode, which is optimized for level road surfaces such as those of a race track.
As before, the SLS AMG GT rides on 265/35R19 tires in front and 295/30R20 tires in back, with forged 10-spoke alloy wheels inlayed in a matte black finish with a high-sheen finish on the face of the wheel. Before you head to the aftermarket, Mercedes will be happy to sell three alternative AMG wheel styles/colors.
Inside, leather sport seats have center sections upholstered in Alcantara. You'll also find Alcantara on the side grips of the steering wheel and door panels, with red seat belts, red-trimmed floormats and red stitching on the seats, dashboard, center console, and door panels for an extra splash of color.
The designo interior package can be ordered in mocha brown/porcelain, titanium grey/porcelain, and mystic red/porcelain, and is complemented on the inside by a diamond-quilt design on the seats and door panel inserts. You'll find designo leather nearly everywhere else you look, while the parcel shelf in the coupe or roll-over bar in the drop-top are finished in porcelain Alcantara.
As you'd expect, Mercedes will offer a full list of extras including carbon-fiber side mirrors, a carbon-fiber engine compartment cover, AMG carbon ceramic composite brakes, as well as a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound surround sound system.
Through the first five months of the year, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is outselling Audi's less expensive R8. With visual and performance-related updates, the SLS AMG GT should have little trouble picking up where the 2012 car left off when it goes on sale this November.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
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