Electric SLS AMG

Electric SLS AMG

Less than a week after it was first reported, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed its intentions to build an electric version of the SLS AMG Supercar. The all-wheel-drive green dream machine will pack 526 horsepower and 649 pound feet of torque. Power will be stored in a 400-volt liquid cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged with regenerative braking.

There will be separate transmissions for the front and rear axles and an electric motor will be placed near each of the four wheels. "Torque vectoring" will be employed to ensure that the wheel with the most traction gets the most power. Since Daimler considered the electric version in the conceptual design of the gas-powered SLS, no modifications to the car's lightweight aluminum frame are required for the new powertrain components.

The electric SLS will deliver performance similar to that of its gas powered brother, with a 0-62 mph time of around four seconds. While they may look and perform similarly, the two models will no doubt sound quite different (unless the soundtrack of a 6.3 liter V8 is mated to the electric version of the car).

"With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance," says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Amen, Volker.

Source: Daimler