2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT

The SLS is an interesting beast. When I first saw the car, my initial reaction was, “Damn, they did good with this one.” Then I drove it, and my reaction was, “Damn, what did they do to this car, and who’d they build it for?” The styling says distinguished gentleman while the driving experience says 20-something tuner kid.

The styling says distinguished gentleman while the driving experience says 20-something tuner kid.

The 2013 SIS GT gets a 20-horsepower bump to 583, while torque remains unchanged at 479 lb-ft. AMG’s SpeedShift seven-speed dual-clutch transmission gets a few updates, as does the adaptive suspension, giving you Sport and Sport+ only. The extra power doesn’t change straight-line performance, but the figure-eight numbers dropped by a couple tenths to 23.9 seconds at 0.87 g (avq) with a lateral acceleration of 1.04 g (avg), the best we’ve seen out of an SLS. Our major complaint about the SLS was the wiggle-happy rear end. It liked to wiggle everywhere-entering a corner, tracking through a comer, and especially exiting a comer. The SIS GT is still wiggle-happy, but it’s slightly more composed than the last SIS. When you push the SIS GT it feels heavy and big, with characteristics of a mid-engine, rear-drive car and a front-engine, rear-drive car. And those characteristics seem to always be arguing with each other.

The SIS GT is still wiggle-happy, but it’s slightly more composed than the last SIS.

It's not all bad. Given a massive black lake, the SLS GT is one of the most smile-inducing, smoke-generating vehicles you can play with. But it's an absolute handful if you're trying to put together a clean hot lap around a track.

The individual who can afford the SLS GT and will appreciate the styling won't care much for the overly stiff suspension, and not having a "comfort" setting makes it that much more annoying. Those who might like this stiffly sprung ride simply can't afford it. Which brings me back full circle: Whom is this car designed for?

SLS Black Series

In its third year of production, Mercedes' SLS is finally getting the Black Series treatment. Engine output has been pushed to 622 hp and 468 lb-ft, making this AMG's most powerful combustion engine.

The Black Series gets adjustable coil-over suspension MANIAC Mercedes' Black Series modifications transform an already crazy ride into a wild child. electronic damping, a wider front and rear track, and an air-management system consisting of intakes, vents, canards, a splitter, a diffuser, a spoiler, and an adjustable rear wing with Gurney flap.

In its third year of production, Mercedes' SLS is finally getting the Black Series treatment.

To help cut weight, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic has been used for the chassis brace, torque tube, hood, interior and exterior panels, and there's a titanium exhaust and an ultra-light lithium-ion starter battery. The interior gets a unique Designo leather/Alcantara treatment. This car is going to be wild.