MERCEDES-BENZ PLANNING TO REVIVE SLC NAMEPLATE TO TAKE ON PORSCHE 911

[marwan25]

pparently, Mercedes-Benz has gone so far as to give the project a codename – a sign that a production model is increasingly likely.

Expected to bow at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in concept car form, the reborn SLC could hit the market as soon as the 2013 model year. Priced above $100,000, the two-door, front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car will probably be primarily engineered by Mercedes’ AMG performance division.

That pedigree means it should easily square off against a more dedicated sports car like the 911, although Mercedes-Benz has also apparently listed the Aston Martin V8 Vantage as another rival, which means the Mercedes-Benz model might take the grand touring route instead.

The SLC would slot in significantly below the SLS, but it would also be more overtly sporty than the droptop SL roadsters. As for a powertrain, a detuned version of the latest M159 V8 used in the SLS will top the range, although Mercedes-Benz will probably need to offer the twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 being introduced for 2012 in the E550 and S550 in order to expand the SLC’s sales.

SLC Heritage
Enthusiasts not well-versed on Mercedes-Benz’s history might not recall the SLC badge. Used from 1971 to 1981, it described a more personal luxury coupe-oriented version of the popular SL roadster. The SLC had a larger interior than the SL thanks to its significantly longer wheelbase. Although not a huge seller in absolute terms, the car was a moneymaker and image builder for Mercedes-Benz.

Unlike the original SLC, however, the reborn car isn’t expected to have a droptop counterpart. That means it will be free to feature its own styling not driven by the need to match an open top sibling. The original SLC was faulted by many for its awkward roofline and, in North America, its enormous NHTSA-mandated 5 mph bumpers.