Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupes, Supercars, Mercedes-Benz
Spy Shots: Mercedes test mule revealed
by John Neff on Aug 8th 2007 at 6:58PM 
click above image for high-res gallery
KGP Photographers have been following around Mercedes-Benz AMG engineers all day under the hot sun in California's "canyon country" just waiting for the right moment. It finally came when the engineers peeled back the car cover and revealed the mystery vehicle we showed you earlier. See this malforned Viper prototype does little to help us determine what production vehicle this car will eventually become, but we know it's property of Mercedes-Benz and involves the work of AMG, so everyone's best guess appears to be the upcoming SLC super coupe.
The SLC, you may recall, will be a transitional vehicle that Mercedes uses to implement a new all-aluminum space frame in its lineup. The car will be limited to a very low volume, though the processes used to build it will pave the way for aluminum to be injected into the new SL line of cars when they appear in 2012. There have been rumors that the SLC will feature gullwing doors like Mercs of yore, though these spy shots don't support that theory either way.
In fact, all we're able to see are general proportions at this point, and its clear from the extra-long bonnet that this car will be front-engine and rear-wheel-drive. We suppose all-wheel drive is a possibility, though we don't expect the AMG team to abandon their favorite layout.
[Photos: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jg 7:06PM (8/08/2007)
Looks very Batmobile-like. Or a german Corvette. Cool.
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SSBR 7:11PM (8/08/2007)
Maybe thats Cerberus final gift to Mercedes, a Mercedes Viper.
rolesor.com
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Brad Chang 3:14AM (8/24/2007)
You nailed it right on the head... can't Daimler do anything original after screwing Chrysler out of house and home?
Brad
tim d 7:11PM (8/08/2007)
badass
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BartMack 7:22PM (8/08/2007)
That's the best looking Mercedes I've ever seen... you guys sure it's a Merc? With those smooth lines and single round headlights it's a beauty already, but knowing Mercedes they'll 'signature over-swoop it' and ruin the appeal. Not That I have the $170k it'll cost anyway lol =)
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dave 7:34PM (8/08/2007)
This is sweet ... BUT, it looks just like the TVR Cebera. Way too much. Check it:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9043/ceberabp4.jpg
It's alright though, because I loved the Cebera and this is a much more refined look...can't wait to see the production version.
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Toy Yoda 7:35PM (8/08/2007)
Is this the mid-engine, Audi R8-fighter that MB is developing? Doesn't look mid-engine, tho?
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Ovidel 7:47PM (8/08/2007)
Well... with all the Mercs around I can see why everyone thinks it's a some kind of new Merc.
Look a little bit at the side photos...did it occur to anyone that it looks a LOT like a Viper?...
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3cubed minus 3squared plus1 7:53PM (8/08/2007)
Try reading much?
miten 7:58PM (8/08/2007)
yes, it sure does look like the dodge viper.
the tail-lights are pretty much the same...
anyone else see that ?
jason ehrentreu 7:52PM (8/08/2007)
Your comments: This is a viper body, look at the side exhaust, also the tail lights are exactly the same, look:
http://www.zercustoms.com/car-show/albums/userpics/10001/2008_Dodge_Viper_SRT10_3.jpg
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darth 7:54PM (8/08/2007)
Looks like a viper past the a-pillar
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madformadtv2004 8:51PM (8/08/2007)
A Merc Viper, kool!
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vdk 9:40PM (8/08/2007)
not if it costs you $170k...
JC3 9:39PM (8/08/2007)
Mule's a Viper body.Hope it's hiding the return of the Gullwing Mercedes
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Auday 2:16AM (8/09/2007)
This is obviously a Dodge Viper not an MB car, and even if it's an MB it would be the SL not the SLC, I doubt it's anything other than the new Viper.
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GlennS 2:27AM (8/09/2007)
uuuuh, its a test mule. The viper skin that is riveted/welded on will have nothing to do with what the final car looks like. They are just using viper pannels to hide whats under the skin.
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Yago Bal 2:49AM (8/09/2007)
:s sometimes I'm really suprised with the level of the comments here...
Yes, it's a Viper skin: this is A MULE!!! You can forget about any detail of it's outer skin: the only thing real about the way it looks is it's proportions.
The "can't you see it looks just like..." speach doesn't apply at all.
And that's why I think this isn't the SLC: we've seen mules of that, and they couldn't be more different.
It'd say it's a mule for the P8: Mercedes is showing the concept in Frankfurt this year.
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Fooman 4:53AM (8/09/2007)
Viper mates with an MGB... News at eleven.
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RL 2:25PM (8/09/2007)
I'm always a little surprised when readers of autoblog don't grasp the concept of "test mule". Just because it has the skin of another vehicle on it, doesn't mean its that vehicle. *Flash back* to the NSX-in-s2000-skin debacle..
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