Mercedes-Benz sees the supercars as a solid, very serious business for growing the awareness of the brand and inevitably attracting more customers in favour of the Stuttgart-based constructor. Being well known for the famous racing cars of the 30s and 50s and for masterpieces such as the 300 SL Gullwing, the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG, the 450 SLC AMG and the modern SLS AMG, the decision team at Mercedes-Benz has understood the challenge that lie up ahead in the future and have reportedly given the agreement for manufacturing an all new sports model entitled SLC, which is destined to go beneath the current SLS. As in the case of the Gullwing, AMG will head most of the development phase. According to latest hints, the future Porsche 911 opponent, as described by a company insider, has already received an internal code designation, a fact which further points to the likelihood of the new SLC. When it's revealed in either 2015 or 2016, this super vehicle will sport a front-engine architecture with rear-wheel-drive and a transaxle gearbox, specially modified to ensure faster shifts. Power will come courtesy of an aspirated V8 unit, capable to deliver at least 420 hp of peak output and 550 Nm of maximum torque, fully available from a low engine turation. In order to keep weights low and improve performance, the SLC will be built on a technically-advanced platform extensively using lightweight materials such as aluminium (mixed with high-durability steel and metallic alloys for an added body strength and rigidity) and carbon fiber (better known as CFRP = carbon fiber reinforced plastic). It is still too early to judge upon the aesthetical side of the new SLC, but we can tell for sure it will have coventional doors instead of the roof-mounted, gullwing examples found on the SLS AMG and it will boast a more aerodynamic, slim, kinda bullet-shaped contour.
Source: Autocar
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