Buyers line up for Gullwing

Announced only last month, Mercedes-Benz dealers now hold 15 orders for the newest Benz supercar, the SLS.

The car arrives next June with priced from around $500,000. Mercedes-Benz spokesman, David McCarthy, says the company is confident of selling about 70 in the first 12 months. "We are expected to get about 50 cars minimum," he says. "The inquiry has been strong and the demand has been unbelievable."

Mercedes-Benz plans to build about 12,000 SLSs over five years. Like the 1950s Mercedes SL coupe, the SLS has upward opening gullwing doors that, like the front-end styling, take their inspiration from the classic coupe. However, the 21st-century gullwing has an aluminium space-frame body, 420kW V8 set just ahead of the two seater