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Mercedes’ new Gullwing (2009): the inside story
By
Georg Kacher (artist's impression by Larson)
Spyshots
09 May 2008 09:22
An AMG supercar… they don’t do slow, do they?
Too right. As the pinnacle of AMG’s expertise, the C/R197 is going to be warp-speed fast. True to the AMG moniker, the engine is of course a version of the high-revving 6.3-litre V8 mated to the new Sportshift box.
The final numbers have yet to be confirmed, but conservative estimates suggest 550bhp and 445lb ft of twist action. Okay, so on paper the Gullwing is less potent than the Black Series SL, but that light weight means it should out-accelerate it on the road.
Early data indicates 3.8sec for the sprint from 0-62mph, a top speed of 185mph and an average consumption of 14litres/100km (20.1mpg). The 911 Turbo may be a little more economical and it may have better traction thanks to 4WD. But it won’t be faster than the AMG hotshot.
And will the Gullwing brake as fast as it goes?
You bet. AMG is ushering in its new composite brake system, which is said to be lighter, stronger and notably less fade-prone than a conventional set-up.
How much stronger? According to an engineer, the stopping distance from 100kph/62mph to zero is a time-warp 34 metres. We hope the seatbelts are usefully strong.
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