Car and Driver drove one, Top Gear drove one, Motor Trend drove one, so when is Sioux Falls Auto Reviews gonna drive one? Probably no time soon. But we can post pictures and tell you what it’s all about. This is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell and wow that is a mouthful. We’ll just call it the “E-Cell” from now on.
The E-Cell operates on the same SLS platform, has the same gull-wing doors, and has the same AMG styling, but there’s one big thing missing; the handcrafted AMG 6.3 liter V8 powerhouse. Instead the E-Cell runs on 4 electric motors that are each mounted by a wheel. Now although batteries are very heavy and put this car over 2 tons, the E-Cell still has 526 hp and 649 ft-lbs of torque. Mercedes boasts that that will take you from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds flat and a governed top-speed of 155 mph. That is pretty impressive for something you plug into the wall!
The upside to a super car like this is obviously it’s super cheap to run, super cheap to maintain, and has 0 emissions. The downside is that there is a limited distance you can go without charging. The E-Cell prototype is around 90 miles but Mercedes is planning on using better batteries before its release which will give you about 130 miles+. That’s potentially an entire day at the track at almost no cost in fuel. There is no price on the E-Cell yet but estimates say it will be around $50,000 – $100,000 more than the standard SLS AMG… if you can even call that car standard!
We at SFAR love that companies are putting money into greener and more efficient cars of all classes. From a small daily driver to a track monster, alternative modes of fuel need to be explored. Not only is the E-Cell a step in the right direction but it also comes in a kick-ass neon yellow!
