Chrome Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 Flashes Its Goods at The Quail – Monterey 2010

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood

Straight from its debut at the German Grand Prix, Mercedes shipped the very chrome SLS AMG GT3 race car to the Monterey Peninsula to take part in the week-long Pebble Beach festivities. Other than the obvious chrome wrap job its hard to miss the massive “Laureus” decals. If you’re not familiar with Laureus, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation works to get kids off the street and away from drugs though sports.

As for the car itself, well, it’s based on the street car and powered by the same 6.2-liter AMG V8 engine. The SLS AMG GT3 gets a six-speed sequential racing transmission and ultra-low curb weight to deliver a 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds. That light-weight body is made entirely of carbon fiber, with impressive new aerodynamics including a massive front splitter, rear diffuser and enormous rear spoiler. Compared to the road car, the GT3’s bodywork is two inches wider, enough to accommodate some massive center locking 18×12-inch front and 18×13-inch rear wheels with racing slicks. Inside those wheels is a special composite AMG race braking system with six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

Mercedes has announced the FIA GT3 spec car is able to compete in all FIA GT3 series, including the 24-hour races at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, and on the Nürburgring in Germany. As for the price, well, that has just been announced at a hefty $430,000 – roughly the same amount they’re asking for a night in a hotel here in Monterey this week.

GALLERY: Chrome Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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