Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Desert Gold Unveiled

When the SLS AMG was unveiled back in September, we couldn't help but be enthusiastic at the sight of the car. Hell, we even sent a team to Frankfurt, at the huge Auto Show held there, to take a few snapshots of the most exciting truly-retro model launched in 2009.

Consequently, we thought the SLS and its glamor have no chance of being ruined by human intervention. Not even the tuning garages which jumped to portray the SLS in ways in which it was never intended to be portrayed didn't scare us. The SLS was safe. Or so we thought...

And then we laid our eyes on this. The AMG Desert Gold... A car which is on display at the Dubai International Motor Show. In Dubai, exactly. A golden Mercedes in Dubai... How cliché is that?

The bad news is that the Stuttgart-based company plans to turn it production version, provided it twists enough sheiks' heads to be worth the investment. If not, the unique golden SLS will remain just a "token of respect for the Middle East," as Mercedes calls it.

The token is wrapped in matte gold on the aluminum body and comes with enough bling-bling to make you ask for a bag (you know what kind): shining chrome, high-gloss black, black-painted AMG light-alloy wheels, with a golden ring on the rim flange, of course.

Fortunately, the 6.2l V8 was not replaced with some golden-piston, platinum coated engine. And it still develops 571 hp...

The purpose of the Desert Gold "bet we can ruin it" exercise? Money talks...