My latest automotive Lust Object, featured in Wired's Autopia…
Speaking of the original... We've always had a soft spot in our heart for the old 300SL. And we've posted pics in the past of that beauty, too:
With a short narrative about how I came to love the car. Hint: it was inherited.
Mercedes-Benz has finally revealed spiritual successor to one of the most famous — and instantly recognizable — cars it has ever built. Although it is officially called the SLS-AMG, it will, like the car it pays homage to, be known as the Gullwing.OOOH! And… AHHH! Dang, but that's a beautiful car and it's oh-so-true to the original, as well.
The 571-horsepower beauty tastefully updates the iconic 300 SL and brings restrained styling back to the Mercedes supercar lineup after the impressive, but somewhat cartoonish, SLR. The lines are long, lean and classic.
The SLS is no less beautiful under the skin.
Instead of an inline six like the original gullwing, the SLS is propelled with due haste by a 6.2-liter V8. It cranks out 571 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque. Although the car weighs 3,564 pounds, it is quite capable of eye-compressing speed. Zero to 100 km/hr (62 mph) comes and goes in just 3.9 seconds. Peg the throttle long enough and the SLS tops out just shy of 200 mph.
Speaking of the original... We've always had a soft spot in our heart for the old 300SL. And we've posted pics in the past of that beauty, too:
With a short narrative about how I came to love the car. Hint: it was inherited.
I'm afraid to show this to my husband! That is a mean lookin' vehicle!
ReplyDeleteOh hell yeah!
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Louisville we lived in the "Old Louisville" section--sort of the equivalent of the Garden Dist in NO, but not exactly, where the blocks were split by central alleyways with the garages backing out onto the alleys. The guy that lived directly across the alley from us was Dean of the Dental School, He owned TWO original Gullwings--a Navy Blue one and a White one.IIRC. NICE cars "up close and personal." Talk about car lust! He's just damn lucky one of 'em didn't up and disappear one night....but nice guy that I am.....
ReplyDeleteMoogie: Ah... go on, do it! I read that Mercedes is already taking orders! :D
ReplyDeleteKris: Yup!
VX: The 300SL hit the street when my father was stationed in Paris and he actually got to drive one. He laughingly threatened to trade my Mom in on one... quite often. She, OTOH, thought the 190SL was quite cute and affordable. She never quit badgering him for one. And... Dang. We should have been dentists, eh?