Baby SLS In The Works, To Be Birthed In 2014

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The number of new car models coming from the design and engineering studios of Mercedes-Benz these days is astounding. But this must be part of the strategy that Mercedes is employing to once again establish its superiority over its other German car manufacturing rivals. On the heels of the announcement of the CLC is news of another little brother to a well-known Mercedes model.

Owing to the relatively healthy sales of the SLS AMG supercar, a baby
SLS is now under gestation at Mercedes’ design and engineering
facilities.

The AMG produced baby SLS will take aim directly at the Jaguar C-X16 and the Porsche 911. Christoph Jung, development director of performance division AMG says, “there is room for an AMG model below the SLS, targeting the Porsche 911. This is the next market for AMG, and we are considering what is the right package.”

There are no details yet as to what platform will underpin
the car, but if it’s going to be a rival for the new 911, then the size
should be near that benchmark sports car.  Like the SLS, the car will
initially appear as a coupe version, with a cabriolet appearing down the
line.

Power is expected to be provided by the 5.5-liter V8, although it’s
not sure if the baby SLS will get the biturbo version too. There has to
be some differentiation in terms of performance since the SLS AMG is
supposed to be the pinnacle.

At any rate, the naturally-aspirated engine
is no slouch and if there is perceived lack of power, you can be sure
that AMG tuners will be quick to address that matter. We can
expect this baby SLS to have the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that
seems to be the perfect partner for the high performance V8. Expect speeds upwards of 200mph and 0-60 times downwards of four seconds.

The baby SLS will reportedly hit the market in 2014 with a price tag of a little over $100,000.

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