What a great initiative to revive the wing door model in a modern setting. The entrance is much easier in comparison to the 300 SL roadster. No steering wheel has to be folded down. Indeed, the new model does not feature steel pipes as a frame, but the self-supporting car body consists of 96 percent aluminum.

This leads us to the main topic of this car, weight reduction. Magnesium is a material which is difficult to integrate into the modern manufacturing process. At least, the material has already conquered the seat racks and the suction parts. Als, aluminum is very present in the drive. Even the screws holding the engine consist of this material. And the steel supporting bowl of the crankshaft bearings has disappeared.

The fact that a normal aspiring engine is inserted, making it the strongest of his class, is another surprising fact. Nevertheless, he has a typical turbo-addition, namely the oil hose nozzles from underneath of the cylinders. Instead of the casting pistons there are Smith´s pistons, which should save a total of 500 grams of oscillatory weight. A vent pipe for every single crank chamber is new, blocking off when the piston moves downwards, holding ready the compressed gas for the upwards movement. This should save another 1,5 percent.

Indeed, one must consider the performance of this car to be able to appreciate 1620 kg of tare weight. 13 litres of super plus does not seem very economically, but whoever buys / drives a car which does not only run 317 km/h, but has its electronic limit at this speed, supposedly more is possible, different values apply. In any case, Mercedes may play in the super class again, competing against Ferrari/Fiat and Lamborghini/Audi.

11/09