100 Years of Sports Cars from Mercedes-Benz At the Techno Classica
The Stuttgart automaker a fascinating overview of the super cars that it has built one hundred years. Including several rare prototypes.
The 300 SL " Gullwing "from 1954 is seen by many as the first super sports car from Mercedes, the new AMG is a distant descendant SLS. But the concept super sports car for Mercedes goes back further than many think. In the eyes of the company itself is the Simplex in 1903 the first model that deserves description. At that time, the top speed of 90 kilometers per hour (60 hp) and provided an unprecedented breakthrough in international races for Mercedes. Other samples were pre-war rate of 37/90 PS and the famous mastodon SSK. The first was in 1911 a peak of 115 kilometers per hour (90hp). Technical progress was fast and slammed the SSK in 1928 to 192 kilometers per hour (170pk 225pk and compressor). A terrifying speed roadholding and braking capacity because it barely kept track speed.
Test lab on wheels
unique to the Techno Classica are C111 and C112 . The first was also named the lab on wheels. The C111 was first unveiled to the public at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1969. Mercedes used this car to experiment with new engine technology. There were copies of a rotary engines and diesels. Twenty-two years later, "das Haus" with a new study model: C112. A thick middle V12 engine came to over 400pk and a top speed of 310 km per hour. The design is reminiscent of the Sauber-Mercedes sports car championship in the early 90s. While the design still looks remarkably fresh, especially next to the C111 which is now seriously dated feel. The C112 only betrays that he is a child of his time by the ribbed tail lamps.
Both cars have never reached the production stage. The C111 was a test exercise. The C112 was a limited edition of 500 copies with, but they are ultimately never materialized. Unfortunately, because there was enough potential clientele. Even within the ranks Mercedes itself has been a little regret afterwards, be whispered.
PK violence
more horsepower violence in the Mercedes-mode comes in the form of a beautiful line-up of the three purest modern supercars with the star: the CLK-GTR (1997), the Vision SLR (1999) and the CLK DTM AMG (2004). The CLK-GTR is a tyrant that you hardly will encounter in the wild. There are only 25 of it, just because the car had to be homologated to the FIA GT championship to do so. Later built even 25 Mercedes convertible versions from the CLK-GTR.
Salient is that the Vision SLR concept car but there is, but his brother production SLR McLaren not. Could it have something to do with the now discontinued collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren cars in the street? This is from official sources denied. What strikes me as the Vision SLR SLS and the brand new AMG so close together, is that the back of the Vision SLR in his younger brother back. Even more than the SLR McLaren.
Vertical Doors
The impressive showcase of Mercedes' best sports car shows very nicely how, after 100 years until his youngest son has come. The current SLS AMG is in many ways indebted to his distant ancestors. The wing doors are an iconic element remained, though the possessor of an SLS AMG steering not to fold his legs to lose, as it was the Gullwing still needed.
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