2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Bows With Eye on Performance

Courtesy of InsideLine

Just the Facts:

• The 583-horsepower 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT, which replaces the SLS AMG, debuted on Tuesday with the bulk of upgrades focusing on performance, according to Daimler.
• The SLS AMG GT will be available in coupe and roadster versions and will go on sale in the U.S. in mid-November.
• Pricing for the U.S. market has not been announced. But when the car goes on sale in Germany in October, it will start at the U.S. equivalent of $254,548 for the GT coupe version and $264,907 for the GT roadster.

The 583-horsepower 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT, which replaces the SLS AMG, debuted on Tuesday with the bulk of upgrades focusing on performance, according to Daimler.

The SLS AMG GT will be available in coupe and roadster versions and will go on sale in the U.S. in mid-November.

A sixth model in the SLS AMG lineup is expected to follow in 2013 in the form of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-CELL, said Daimler. "Mercedes-AMG is planning an exclusive series-production run of the purely electric-driven super sports car," it said.

Pricing for the SLS AMG GT in the U.S. market has not been announced. But when the car goes on sale in Germany in October, it will start at the U.S. equivalent of $254,548 for the GT coupe version and $264,907 for the GT roadster.

In the U.S., the 2012 SLS AMG coupe currently is priced from $190,475, while the SLS AMG roadster starts at $196,975.

The output of the AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine is boosted by 20 hp. The engine is linked to an AMG Speedshift DCT seven-speed sports transmission. "Thanks to newly developed gear change logic and optimized transmission control, it has been possible to shorten reaction time significantly during shifts," said Mercedes-Benz in a statement. The SLS AMG GT also gets an improved suspension, featuring stiffer and more aggressive spring/damper tuning, said the automaker.

The SLS AMG GT accelerates from zero to 60 mph in an estimated 3.6 seconds and has a maximum speed of 197 mph.

Exterior changes include darkened headlights and taillights, along with red-painted brake calipers. The cabin gets racecar touches, including red seatbelts, red-trimmed floor mats and red contrast stitching. An optional AMG designo Style package offers three different interior color combinations and a diamond quilt design on the seats and door panel inserts.

Other options include AMG carbon-fiber exterior mirrors, an interior carbon-fiber package, AMG carbon ceramic high-performance composite braking systems, AMG 10-spoke forged wheels and a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG surround sound system.