Spy Shots: Mystery Merc coupe spotted
It's well known that Mercedes-Benz is developing a new sports car with its racing partner HWA, but, until now, there's been very little evidence of the car apart from a few superficial media reports. However, proof that such a car is in development are these new spy shots that show a very low slung development mule being tested in a desert by AMG engineers. Contrary to earlier speculation, the prototype's severely long snout suggests this will be a front-engined model, but its proportions put it close to rivaling the flagship SLR in size. The spy photographers managed to get up close to the car during the night and were able to measure its wheelbase, which stands at 106 inches.
The extended wheelbase makes it very hard to believe this is in fact the SL-based SLC super-sports car that HWA rep Hans Jürgen Matheis hinted at back in June. That, and the cab backward proportions could signal something different. Winding Road thinks it could even be a new Maybach coupe, which would be very interesting indeed.
[Source: Winding Road]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
burstaneurysm 10:08AM (8/09/2007)
I hope it's the Maybach Exelero... please, please!
http://www.neilchilson.com/images/Maybach%20Exelero%201024x768.jpg
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Scott 12:52PM (8/08/2007)
If you're gonna truncate manufacturer names in headlines can you do it in a way that better distinguishes them? To me, Merc=Mercury while Benz=Mercedes Benz
;)
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AlexP 1:09PM (8/08/2007)
I totally agree, I really thought they meant Mercury. :V
Icon149 1:41PM (8/08/2007)
I think because Merc is short for Mercedes in Europe and the rest of the world. only in the US would that cause confusion.
vdk 2:52PM (8/08/2007)
New word of the day: Merc, short form for Mercedes-Benz. You guys should know this by now...
biggins 1:20PM (8/08/2007)
they got to sneak over and measure the wheelbase?! WOWZERS!!! why not take your camera and get some close up shots too!!
...you photogs fail at being spy-shot-ninjas. however, i do admire the 12 hour stake-out.
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Jens 1:35PM (8/08/2007)
Wow! The proportions are very similar to the ones of an Maybach Excelero.
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NATHAN 1:46PM (8/08/2007)
its the test mule for the mecerdes SLC. the have more info about it on worldcarsfans.com
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Yago Bal 2:26AM (8/09/2007)
With those proportions, it can't be the SLC... and it's not compatible with the mules we have already seen.
I bet it's the P8 Concept that Mercedes will shown in Frankfurt.
iamhoff 2:26PM (8/08/2007)
A Maybach coupe actually would make sense, especially given the success that Bentley, Rolls and others (599 GTB anyone) are having with the uber-pricey coupes. Any recollection from when the 57 and 62 were undergoing prototype testing as to what the chase vehicles were (AMGs to keep up perhaps?)?
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SchoolyG 5:02PM (8/12/2007)
Yeah, Merc is Mercury. Every car enthusiast (see how I avoided saying "car guy"?) knows that.
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Tim 3:50PM (8/08/2007)
What i REALLY want is a new mercury prototype. Give me a cougar xr7 4.6 off the stang platform to compete more price wise w/ the challenger and high end camaros.
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Mike 4:10PM (8/08/2007)
Did it look like it said "Viper" and the rear bumper to anyone else?
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Jonathan Fung 6:22PM (8/08/2007)
Yes, it did have the rear panels of a Viper. In fact, one of the shots on World Car Fans shows the entire back revealed, with a clear shot of the Viper taillights and the open trunk. I'm still going with SLC though.