The renamed 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT gets 20 more hp and an upgraded suspension.
Mercedes-Benz plans to amp up the performance of its gullwing sports car next year – a move it will signal by renaming the 2-seater the 2013 Mercedes SLS AMG GT.
It will likely take you almost as much time to get that out of your mouth as it will for the upgraded coupe to launch from 0 to 60, something Mercedes says will now require just 3.6 seconds, a tenth faster than the “old” SLS.
Top speed will be electronically limited at 197 mph, though it would surprise few to see some aftermarket tuners offer a re-flashed chip to help the SLS break that 200 mph barrier.
As we’ve seen with so many recent German “upgrades,” the 2013 SLS AMG GT maintains its current drivetrain, but enhancements to the 6.2-liter V-8 help squeeze out another 20 horsepower, boosting the figure to an impressive 583, with torque holding at the same 479 lb-ft.
Meanwhile, the big eight-banger is mated to a “recalibrated” version of its AMG Speedshift dual-clutch 7-speed gearbox. The changes are designed to reduce shifts in manual mode “significantly,” which Mercedes suggests “is ideal when striving to achieve some ambitious lap times on a closed-off race circuit.”
The 2013 SLS gets the Designo treatment.
The improvements to the SLS are meant for more than just straight-line performance, Mercedes claims, pointing to the newly developed AMG Ride Control performance suspension. The modified system abandons the 2-seaters old “Comfort” mode, shifting to stiffer spring and damper tuning it insists will also contribute to “faster lap times on a race track.” The two modes now available in the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT are “Sport,” and “Sport Plus.”
From an exterior standpoint, the changes are minor, at most. There’s an optional new carbon-fiber exterior mirror package, and the GT now rides on stickier 19-inch wheels and tires up front, and larger 20-inch rubber in the rear.
There’s a new Designo style package for the interior, including a variety of new singe and two-tone finishes. There are new carbon-fiber upgrades, including an engine compartment cover and a CF interior trim kit. And there’s a new Bang & Olufsen audio package available.
Mercedes says the new coupe GT will go for 204,680 Euros in Germany, the roadster for 213,010. It hasn’t released 2013 pricing for the U.S. yet.