Mercedes-Benz Gullwing SLS price surprise

When Mercedes-Benz Australia announced pricing for its stunning new SLS AMG "Gullwing" earlier this week, it was almost $40,000 lower than its forecast $500,000. At $464,000, Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director, Horst von Sanden, is tipping an increase in deposits from prospective buyers, many of them collectors.

The first cars are due to arrive within months. As many SLS's are expected to be driven at weekends and race days, owners will also get a specially made car cover and battery recharging equipment. The company's allocation of just 50 cars has blown out to 70 and the Australian operation is trying to secure more cars.

Following its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show last year, production of the SLS is now well under way at Sindelfingen, Germany - the largest Mercedes-Benz passenger car production plant. 

"The SLS AMG has been extremely well received by our customers in Australia with over forty orders already locked in," von Sanden says.

"Despite the fact that the first customer cars have not yet arrived and with deliveries not expected until August the order book is filling fast. Even in advance of the actual market launch, orders have considerably exceeded our expectations. Given the impressive demand we are experiencing for this special car our stock allocation for 2010 could well be insufficient."

The SLS features an aluminium spaceframe body with gullwing doors that tips the scales at just 1620kg. It is powered by an AMG-built 6.3-litre V8 front-mid-engine developing 420kW and 650Nm. There is dry sump lubrication, seven-speed double-declutch transmission in a transaxle configuration and sports suspension.

The SLS has a top speed of 317km/h and zero to 100km/h sprint time of just 3.8 seconds.