Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG baby on the way

Porsche's evergreen 911 coupe has a lucrative grip on the $200k performance car market, but is now coming under attack from all corners.

Jaguar has publicly signalled its intentions with the C-X16 concept shown at Frankfurt, and now Mercedes-Benz's high performance arm AMG has told CarsGuide that it too wants a piece of the sports car action between $200,00 and $300,000.

AMG is keen to build further on the success of the SLS Coupe, its first car developed without assistance from Mercedes-Benz since the McLaren SLR.

Speaking at the launch of the SLS Roadster in the south of France, Mercedes-AMG board-member Tobias Moers told CarsGuide that AMG sees potential in a sub-SLS performance car to go head-to-head with the Porsche 911.

"The SLS works well against the Porsche [911] Turbo. But we do not reach normal 911 Coupe guys. Maybe this presents a good opportunity."

Moers said the success of the SLS has given AMG the opportunity to produce a second bespoke model not based on a Mercedes-Benz passenger car, but that discussions were still at an early stage.

"It's not a final decision yet, but for sure we see an opportunity there. The job we did with SLS was not too bad. So I think the story will go on."

He did say AMG would not seek to mirror the 911's rear-engine setup. "Having a mid-engine or rear-engine car is not of interest to us. Front-mid engine is Mercedes-AMG DNA." Moers also confirmed that an extra-high performance Black Series version of the SLS was in the works, and said AMG briefly considered but rejected placing its second bespoke model above the $464,000 SLS Coupe. "Going above the SLS is difficult. The volume gets smaller and smaller."

He also said AMG is working on a version of the new A-class revealed at Frankfurt, but wouldn't be drawn on specifics of the engine beyond conceding that "the future is turbocharged". Will it be front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive? "Wait and see."