Do you ever wonder which GT car can lead a bunch of Formula One vehicles? Whenever there is an accident on the F1 race track that needs to be cleared, Mercedes Benz SLS AMG is released by the organizers. Functioning as a safety car during Formula One races, it is crucial for the Mercedes Benz SLS GT car to run fast. This way, Formula One vehicles will not burn their tires, if they run too slow.
A front-engined luxury car developed by Mercedes Benz AMG, this car was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. By Mid 2010, it was sold in Europe. In the US, it was available the following year. There are many variants to the Mercedes Benz SLS.
In fact, in 2012, Mercedes Benz presented an electric version of the SLS at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Named Mercedes Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive, its goal was to prove that they can produce a powerful GT car without consuming fossil fuel.
The Mercedes Benz SLS was designed by Mark Fetherston in October 2006. The project was finished by April of 2007. Featuring a futuristic wing door that swings upward, it has to be manually opened since putting an auto-closing system on the Mercedes Benz SLS will require an additional 90 pounds. Considering the safety of the driver and passenger during accidents, the designer of the Mercedes Benz intentionally made the doors removable in case of a rollover.
The Mercedes Benz SL is the closest design to the SLS. What made the Mercedes Benz SLS different is its unique door design alongside its V12 engine. According to the GT car experts, the Mercedes Benz is also one of the cheapest GT cars in the market with a classy unusual door design.
Different Versions
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG was made in different versions. This includes the safety car variant present in the Formula One race track. The first variant of the Mercedes Benz SLS was the AMG Desert Gold presented in Dubai in 2009. In mid-2010, Mercedes Benz presented an FIA GT3 racing version of the superb Mercedes Benz model. From 2011-2013, Mercedes Benz released two more variants of the Mercedes Benz SLS including a roadster and an electric version. There are also less known versions of the SLS. In fact, in 2011, Mercedes Benz released an Ambulance version of the car. This Mercedes Benz SLS version was unveiled in 2011 for the RETT Mobil Emergency Vehicle Expo.
Why Was It Used as Safety Car?
Because of the high expectations in a Mercedes Benz GT car, it is important for engineers and designers to consider the importance of technology. For instance, being a safety car in the Formula One circuit requires a powerful engine. The company made use of a 563 to 805 horsepower engine to cater to these types of situations.
Thanks to the powerful engine, the safety car version of the Mercedes Benz SLS can run 200 kilometers per hour without any trouble. This is already enough speed to let the F1 cars move around without starting a fire on their tires. For the Mercedes SLS, it can reach a top speed of 340 kilometers per hour and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.8 seconds. Given the top-notch performance, it isn’t surprising why it was chosen as the safety car for the world’s most prestigious race.