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A closer look at the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept

Michael Harley — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz hosted us in Miami a several weeks ago to get more acquainted with its latest cooperative adventure - a partnership with Cigarette Racing to build an all-electric racing boat. While we posted on the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept after its worldwide introduction at the Miami Boat Show, its automotive-based technology is innovative enough to warrant a closer look.

Cigarette Racing has been building some of the world's finest high-performance boats - and racing them to victory - since the late 1960s. With more than four decades of experience under its decks, there might not be another boatmaker that offers a range combining this much military, yachting, aerospace and boat-building technologies. Cigarettes are hideously expensive, but they appeal to those seeking watercraft that are fast, uncompromising and exclusive. It goes without saying that they occupy rare waters - the highlighter-yellow boat seen above even more so than most.

Continue reading A closer look at the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept

A closer look at the Cigarette AMG Electric Drive Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive laps Ascari

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Luxury

A philosophical question from your automotive enthusiast future: does a supercar need to make noise in order to be a supercar? The easy answer might be no. If they're more powerful, do everything faster, attract the opposite sex, cost a gang of money and look better in orange than actual oranges, what more are you looking for?

Then watch the blue chrome, $573,000, KERS-equipped, 740-horsepower Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive lap the Ascari track in Spain. It does so largely in silence, although at some points it sounds like a hidden jet flying overhead. That should be worth something when the SLS AMG ED hits the road and causes people to look up as it drives by. But is it still really a supercar?

There's no wrong answer, but feel free to refer to your Kant and Wittgenstein reference materials for assistance while you watch the video below.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive laps Ascari

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive laps Ascari originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive offers guilt-free, zero-emission supercar fun... for $537K

George Kennedy — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Electric

The folks at Mercedes-Benz must have a guilty conscience when it comes to the SLS AMG supercar. Why else would the German automaker follow up the snarling V8-powered debut of the modern gullwing with the SLS AMG E-Cell, and now the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive? While the retina-searing E-Cell was a merely prototype, the vehicle you see here is a production version, and can be yours for a cool half a million bucks.

Mercedes-Benz says this electrified gullwing is the most powerful vehicle in the AMG stable. With four electric motors - one at each wheel - producing a combined 740 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque, the SLS Electric Drive can rocket to 62 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds. For reference, the conventionally powered SLS AMG GT puts out 583 hp, but can do the 0-60 sprint in 3.6 seconds.

The all-electric SLS employs a KERS system that was developed with help from the Mercedes-AMG Formula One team. A specially designed wall box charging unit has been designed that allows a customer's home to possess the same three-hour quick charge capabilities as a public station. Without the wall box, the EV supercar charges in about 20 hours.

If you can afford the €416,500 ($537,930) entry fee, throwing down the extra dough for a wall box should not be an issue. Mercedes-Benz calls the SLS AMG Coupe Electric Drive "the most exclusive and dynamic way to drive an electric car." With the blue chrome finish, we would also add "eye-catching," to that description. See for yourself in the accompanying gallery.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive offers guilt-free, zero-emission supercar fun... for $537K

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive offers guilt-free, zero-emission supercar fun... for $537K originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 04:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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