The A-arms, steering knuckles and hub carriers at the front and rear axles are made entirely of forged aluminium -- which helps to substantially reduce the unsprung masses; and this in turn improves the responsiveness of the suspension. At 2,680 millimetres, the long wheelbase results in not only a stable straight-line stability, but also a low dynamic wheel load shift which significantly reduces the vehicle's tendency to roll during acceleration and deceleration. The wide tread -- 1,682 millimetres in the front, and 1,653 millimetres in the rear -- ensures a lower dynamic wheel load transfer from the inside wheel to the outside wheel on bends, which gives the tyres more grip. When driving around bends, the big castor angle of 11.5 degrees results in a large increase in the negative camber, in addition to improving the tyres' grip -- and lending high stability when braking suddenly in bends.
Direct steering, differential lock and three-stage ESP
With a constant mechanical gear ratio of 13.6:1, the rack-and-pinion steering gear delivers a consistently direct steering feel, thereby meeting drivers' high expectations of a super sports car. The parameter power steering works with speed-dependent support and improves feedback for the driver as driving speed increases, a crucial factor when driving straight ahead at high speed. The mounting of the steering gear in front of the engine, on the frametype integral support, allows a particularly low engine position. The gullwing car features a 3-stage ESP, giving the driver a choice of the three modes "ESP ON", "ESP SPORT" and "ESP OFF" at the push of a button. Even in "ESP OFF" mode, simply applying the brake pedal makes all ESP functions accessible again.
The traction logic of the acceleration skid control ASR is active in all three ESP modes. If a drive wheel begins to lose traction, a targeted activation of the brakes supplies a considerable improvement in traction -- especially in combination with the mechanical multiple-disc limited-slip differential lock, which is standard equipment. During particularly dynamic driving, this allows more effective transfer of the engine output to the road.
AMG high-performance, ceramic-composite brakes, new "flow forming" wheels
The AMG high-performance composite brakes on the front axle ensure the vehicle quickly comes to a stop even under an enormous load. Even better braking performance is provided by the newly developed, optional ceramic-composite brake system with larger brake discs. Thanks to their increased hardness, the ceramic brake discs offer greater safety at high temperatures and are also impressive by virtue of their weight, which has been reduced by about 40 per cent. Through the reduction of the unsprung masses, they further optimise the gullwing's handling -- which becomes especially apparent during motorway driving and around bends at high speed.
Lighweight engineering also played a key role with regard to the wheels: Weight-optimised AMG light alloy wheels in accordance with the new "flow forming" principle will be fitted to the SLS AMG. 9.5 x 19 inches on the front, and 11.0 x 20 inches on the rear, will reduce the unsprung masses and boost handling dynamics and suspension comfort. In addition to the standard AMG light alloy wheels with a seven-spoke design, customers can choose optional wheels with five double-spokes or forged wheels in a ten-spoke design. Tyres developed exclusively for the SLS AMG -- 265/35 R 19 in the front, and 295/30 R 20 in the rear, ensure top performance. The standard equipment includes a tyre pressure monitoring system that continuously checks the pressure of all four wheels and displays the individual values for each tyre.
The reinterpretation of the legendary gullwing will celebrate its market launch in the UK in early Summer 2010. UK specification and pricing will be confirmed early in 2010.