Premiering at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its latest green car in the most ostentatious shade of blue we have ever seen. For more than a year now, we have seen spy photos of an all-electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing being put through its paces. Finally, the production vehicle is here.
The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is what the German automaker calls "The world's most powerful series production electric car." What does that mean? A total of four electric motors send a combined output of 740-hp and 737 lb.-ft. of torque to all four wheels. Amounting to an extra 177-hp and 259 lb.-ft. of torque over the 6.2 liter V8 SLS, the Electric Drive variant blasts from 0-to-62 mph (100 km) in just 3.9 seconds and will reach all the way up to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
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Unfortunately, with great power comes great battery packs. The liquid cooled 60kWh lithium-ion cell weights a staggering 548 kg, all concentrated in the area that once housed the transmission and stored the fuel tank from the standard SLS. Not only must the SLS handle a lot of bulk, conventional charges must need at least 20 hours to fully saturate the batteries. An optional quick charge wall charger provides a 22kW output, cutting down the time necessary for a full charge down to 3 hours. Regenerative braking systems also aid in energy management.
To offset the mass and complexity, Mercedes-Benz has completely redone the body of the SLS. While the vehicle looks nearly identical to its internal combustion counterpart, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is constructed from aluminum and carbon fiber to minimize its weight. 402mm/360mm carbon ceramic brakes also help to shorten braking distances.
According to Mercedes Benz, the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive is expected to hit the market by July 2013. Prices will start at 416,500 euros (USD$536,200).
