autoevolution
 

Mercedes-AMG is Playing With Our Heads

Before you start calling me schizophrenic for not making up my mind about the story with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG's imminent end of production, bear with me for one more mild harangue.
Earlier today, Mercedes-Benz released a model that they're calling the SLS AMG GT Final Edition, in both Coupe and Roadster guise, therefore making me offer you guys a mea culpa for stating otherwise in the last few weeks.

I was pretty disappointed about the way things evolved, for a number of reasons, but mainly because it's always uncomfortable to acknowledge a mistake publicly.

I also felt a bit let down by Mercedes-Benz themselves, since the accompanying press release regarding the SLS AMG GT Final Series not only sounds like an epitaph, but it's about as short as one as well.

My disappointment turned into contemplation when I looked back at two sets of spyshots from about a month ago, one depicting a camouflaged SLS AMG Coupe and the other one an SLS AMG Roadster.

Back then I was reporting that the two camouflaged cars are most likely hiding a 2014-bound facelift for the SLS AMG, one that would also replace its epic and in my opinion irreplaceable M159 engine with the twin-turbocharged V8 from the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT (C190), internally codenamed M177.

At least that's what the oversized front air scoops with visible radiators behind each headlight were professing. The launch timing of the alleged mid-cycle facelift sounded more than appropriate as well, with my bet being sometime in the summer of 2014, right before the official unveil of the SLS AMG little bro, also known as the Mercedes-AMG GT (C190).

The SLS AMG GT Final Edition press release from earlier today kind of forced me to take my words back, until I noticed that neither of the Final Edition models is sporting the huge air intakes under the headlights, with the visible radiators behind them.

In fact, the SLS AMG GT Final Edition looks not much different than a “regular” SLS with a couple of tuner aftermarket parts - like the C 63 AMG Edition 507-derived wheels, the addition of a carbon fiber front lip, hood and rear wing and a diamond-stitched leather upholstery with more carbon fiber sprinkled in the interior.

Is this how the SLS AMG is going away, after not even four years of production? The modern Gullwing's production started in Sindelfingen in January 2010, and yearly sales have clearly surpassed those of the preceding three-pointed star flagship sports car, the SLR McLaren.

Being AMG's first and so far only car developed from the ground up in Affalterbach and not based on an existing Mercedes-Benz model, the SLS AMG's demise so soon would leave more questions than answers.

To keep it short, is the SLS AMG GT Final Edition just smokes and mirrors? Is AMG's PR department pulling a fast one on everybody? This is purely speculation but it's fueled by both common sense and the aforementioned spy photos, which clearly show a car that doesn't exist yet in the SLS AMG lineup.

In my (current) opinion, which may or may not change providing new information about the subject arises in the following months, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition is not a swan song but just a carefully constructed legerdemain to keep the lineup's sales momentum until a mid-cycle facelift arrives next year.

Of course, I might be horribly wrong and the Mercedes-AMG GT (C190) is actually a non-spiritual replacement for the larger SLS, but in my opinion the two models could co-exist just fine since the non-Euro 6 M159 engine would also be replaced by the much more emission-friendly M177. That line of thought is not entirely schizophrenic, is it?
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Alex Oagana
Alex Oagana profile photo

Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories