Review: Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe (2010-13)

Overview

Released in July 2010, the Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe was a two-seat, high-performance coupe with gullwing doors (the A197 SLS AMG Roadster has been reviewed separately). Manufactured in Sindelfingen, Germany, the C197 SLS AMG was powered by a 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a seven-speed double clutch transmission (Mercedes-Benz’s ‘SPEEDSHIFT’) in a transaxle configuration; the transmission itself featured selectable shift modes and steering wheel gearshift paddles.

M159 engine

The 6.2-litre M159 V8 petrol engine had double overhead camshafts, a forged and balanced crankshaft, four valves per cylinder, dry sump lubrication, a compression ratio of 11.3:1 and a 7200 rpm red line. As such, the SLS AMG Coupe could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and had a top speed of 317 km/h (electronically limited).

SLS AMG Coupe Black Series

Released in July 2013, the SLS AMG Coupe Black Series was powered by a more powerful 6.2-litre M159 V8 petrol engine. As a result of these engine modifications and mass reduction measures, the SLS AMG Black Series could accelerate from rest to 100 km /h in 3.6 seconds.

Chassis and dimensions

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe had an aluminium space-frame chassis with aluminium double-wishbone suspension front and rear. Furthermore, the SLS AMG Coupe was 4638 mm long, 1939 mm wide, 1262 mm tall and had a 2680 mm long wheelbase.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe included dual front airbags, front knee airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, door-mounted window airbags, ABS, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Brakes

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe had 390 mm front brake discs with six-piston aluminium calipers and 360 mm rear disc brakes with four-piston aluminium

Features: Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe

Standard features for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe included 19-inch front and 20-inch rear seven-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels, Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND APS (Cockpit Management and Data Auto Pilot System) with a seven-inch colour display, satellite navigation, an eleven speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, a six-disc CD/DVD player, MP3/WMA-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (USB/iPod/MP3), 6GB hard drive for music storage, Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, Nappa leather upholstery, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime driving lights and washers, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a leather-wrapped ‘AMG Performance’ steering wheel, remote central locking with proximity key, power windows and retracting mirrors, a power adjustable steering wheel (tilt and reach), trip computer, tyre pressure monitoring, a motion-sensing alarm and an immobiliser.

The SLS AMG Coupe was also fitted with a mechanical rear axle differential lock.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Black Series

Released in July 2013, mechanical changes for the SLS AMG Coupe Black Series included:

• A higher peak engine speed of 8000 rpm;
• A revised high-speed valve train with modified camshafts, adapted cam geometry and optimised bucket tappets;
• Modified air intake ducting; and,
• Optimisation of the crank assembly, including modified oil bores in the crankshafts, a new oil pump and high-strength screwed connections for the connecting rods.

With a kerb mass of 1550 kg (DIN), the Black Series was 70 kg lighter than the standard SLS AMG Coupe due to its:

• Titanium exhaust system with fan-type exhaust pipes;
• Carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components for the bonnet, rear panel behind the seats, diagonal underbody braces, driveshaft and torque tube between the engine and transmission;
• Lithium-ion battery in place of the conventional starter battery;
• AMG ten-spoke light-alloy wheels; and,
• AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system (with 402 mm by 39 mm front discs and 360 mm by 32 mm rear discs).

Suspension changes for the Black Series included:

• A tauter standard suspension tune with electronically-controlled two-stage damping (‘Sport’ and ‘Sport +’);
• Coil-over spring retainers to enable adjustment of wheel loads;
• More rigid elastokinematics for greater stability;
• Increased track width (by 20 mm and 24 mm for the front and rear, respectively); and,
• New wheel carriers on the front axle and a new front stabiliser.

The Black Series was fitted with newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 sports tyres, with 275/35 R19 tyres at the front and 325/30 R20 tyres at the rear for additional grip. Instead of a mechanical differential, the Black Series was fitted with an electronically-controlled AMG rear-axle differential lock with a shorter rear-axle ratio.

Inside, the Black Series was available with Alcantara black and Alcantara black/red colour combinations. The interior also featured:

• AMG sports bucket seats;
• An AMG Performance steering wheel with Alcantara and a red 12 o’clock marking;
• A fine Alcantara strip with contrasting red stitching which extended across the dashboard; and,
• AMG sports bucket seats with designo leather, Alcantara and embossed AMG emblems.

Visually, the Black Series could be identified by its flared wheel arches (13 mm at the front and 26 mm at the rear), darkened headlights, black tail-light surrounds, carbon-fibre reinforced plastic front splitter, carbon side sill inserts, carbon fibre rear apron and enlarged air intakes with carbon-fibre flics.

Brochures

• Brochure: Mercedes C197 SLS AMG (March 2010)
• Brochure: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe and Roadster (September 2012)
• Brochure: Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Black Series (November 2012)

Related links

• Press Kit: Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe (February 2013)
• Specifications: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe and Roadster (July 2012)
• Wikipedia.org: Mercedes-Benz C197 SLS AMG Coupe