Which SLS AMG version to buy
Buy 6.2 DCT (591 hp) if the brief is the fastest 0–100 and the highest top speed in this catalogue: 3.7 s and 320. There are two 591 hp cars; pick the one whose front axle matches how you want the chassis set (pneumatic vs spring). Buy 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg) if you want the lightest petrol SLS AMG here.
Buy 6.2 DCT (591 hp) if the brief is the fastest 0–100 and the highest top speed in this catalogue: 3.7 s and 320. There are two 591 hp cars; pick the one whose front axle matches how you want the chassis set (pneumatic vs spring). Buy 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg) if you want the lightest petrol SLS AMG here. Buy 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1735 kg, 120 mm clearance) if you want the only version with 120 mm ground clearance. Buy AT (750 hp) only if the point is AWD, 1000 Nm, 0 CO2, and electric drive — not if you need the highest listed top speed.
There is no second generation to “wait for.” Every trade-off below is inside this one Coupe run.
Specs: all 5 versions side by side
| Version | hp | Nm | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT (750 hp) | 750 | 1000 | not measured | Electro | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic, 1 | AWD |
| 6.2 DCT (591 hp, pneumatic front) | 591 | 650 | 6208 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Robotic, 7 | RWD |
| 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg) | 571 | 650 | 6208 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Robotic, 7 | RWD |
| 6.2 DCT (591 hp, spring front) | 591 | 650 | 6208 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Robotic, 7 | RWD |
| 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 120 mm) | 571 | 650 | 6208 | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | No | Robotic, 7 | RWD |
Power and torque peaks where measured: both 6.2 DCT outputs make hp at 6800 and 650 Nm at 4750. AT (750 hp) has power and moment_rpm not measured.
Engine architecture that is measured is identical on all four petrol cars: 6208 displacement, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 11.3, bore × stroke 102.2 × 94.6, fuel 98. AT (750 hp) is Electro / Electro; cylinder count, layout, boost, injection, compression, and bore × stroke are not measured.
Performance: 0–100, top speed, mpg-style consumption
0–100 (s): 6.2 DCT (591 hp, either chassis) 3.7; 6.2 DCT (571 hp, either chassis) 3.8; AT (750 hp) 3.9.
The 591 hp petrol cars are 0.1 s quicker to 100 than the 571 hp petrol cars, and 0.2 s quicker than AT (750 hp). Extra peak power on AT (750 − 591 = 159 hp, 750 − 571 = 179 hp) does not buy a quicker 0–100 in this table.
Top speed: 6.2 DCT (591 hp) 320; 6.2 DCT (571 hp) 317; AT (750 hp) 250. The 591 vs 571 gap is 3. AT (750 hp) is 70 below the 591 hp cars and 67 below the 571 hp cars.
Consumption (city / highway / combined): all four 6.2 DCT versions 19.9 / 9.3 / 13.2. AT (750 hp): city not measured, highway not measured, combined not measured.
CO2 / eco class: AT (750 hp) 0, eco class not measured. 6.2 DCT (591 hp, pneumatic front), 6.2 DCT (591 hp, spring front), and 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 120 mm): 308, Euro 5. 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg): CO2 not measured, eco class not measured.
Tank: petrol versions 85. AT (750 hp): tank not measured.
Power per litre, kg per hp, what the extra output buys
Displacement 6208 on petrol only (6.208 litres for the ratio):
- 6.2 DCT (591 hp): 591 ÷ 6.208 ≈ 95.2 hp per litre
- 6.2 DCT (571 hp): 571 ÷ 6.208 ≈ 92.0 hp per litre
- Gap: 20 hp (591 − 571), about 3.5% more peak power, 0 Nm difference (both 650), 0.1 s 0–100, 3 top speed.
AT (750 hp): litres not measured, so hp per litre is not measured.
Kerb weight ÷ hp (only where both numbers exist):
- 6.2 DCT (591 hp, 1735 kg, both chassis variants): 1735 ÷ 591 ≈ 2.94 kg per hp
- 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg): 1695 ÷ 571 ≈ 2.97 kg per hp
- 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1735 kg, 120 mm): 1735 ÷ 571 ≈ 3.04 kg per hp
- AT (750 hp): kerb not measured, so kg per hp is not measured
The lightest petrol car is 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg): 40 kg under the 1735 kg cars (1735 − 1695). That lighter 571 hp car still trails the 591 hp cars by 0.1 s and 3 top speed, so the 20 hp gap outweighs the 40 kg cut on the two figures this catalogue measures for speed.
Gross weight: 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg) 1935; the three 1735 kg petrol cars 1960 (+25). AT (750 hp): gross not measured.
Torque: petrol 650 Nm vs AT (750 hp) 1000 Nm — +350 Nm on the electric car, with AWD and a 1-speed Automatic instead of RWD and a 7-speed Robotic. That extra torque and drive do not produce the lowest 0–100 or the highest top speed here.
Dimensions, weight, clearance, wheels
Ground clearance: 99 on AT (750 hp) and on three petrol versions; 120 only on 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1735 kg, spring/spring). That is +21 mm vs the rest (120 − 99). If driveways and ramps matter more than the last 0.1 s, this is the only SLS AMG in the data with that extra height.
Wheels (all five): 265/35 R19 and 295/30 R20. No version changes tyre size in this catalogue.
Brakes (all five): front Ventilated disc, rear Disc ventilated.
Suspension — the real split among identical names:
1. AT (750 hp): Independent, pneumatic / Independent, pneumatic 2. 6.2 DCT (591 hp, pneumatic front): Independent, pneumatic / Independent, pneumatic 3. 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg): Independent, pneumatic / Independent, pneumatic 4. 6.2 DCT (591 hp, spring front): Independent, spring / Independent, pneumatic 5. 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 120 mm): Independent, spring / Independent, spring
The two 6.2 DCT (591 hp) cars match on hp, Nm, 0–100 (3.7), top speed (320), kerb (1735), gross (1960), clearance (99), tank (85), consumption, CO2 (308), Euro 5. The measured difference is the front axle: pneumatic vs spring. Rear is pneumatic on both.
The two 6.2 DCT (571 hp) cars do not match on mass and clearance: 1695 / 1935 / 99 and pneumatic/pneumatic vs 1735 / 1960 / 120 and spring/spring. Same 3.8 0–100 and 317 top speed. The 1695 kg car has CO2 and eco class not measured; the 120 mm car lists 308 and Euro 5.
Generation: what changed, and what did not
1 generation, 2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31, body Coupe, 5 versions. No later generation in the data, so there is no “new gen” to buy for a cleaner chassis or a different body.
Petrol 6.2 DCT versions are listed 2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31. AT (750 hp) is listed 2012-09-01 to 2014-12-31 — 2 years 8 months later to market, and it is the only Electro / AWD / Automatic / 1-speed car. If you need the electric SLS AMG in this catalogue, the window is the last part of the generation, not the full 2010 start.
What did not change across petrol versions: displacement 6208, 8 V-shaped, boost No, Direct injection (direct), 98 fuel, Robotic 7, RWD, consumption 19.9 / 9.3 / 13.2, wheels as above.
Decision order (using only these numbers)
1. Need AWD, 1000 Nm, 0 CO2, Electro? → AT (750 hp). Accept 3.9 0–100, 250 top speed, mass/tank/consumption not measured, on sale from 2012-09-01. 2. Need the highest 0–100 and top speed? → 6.2 DCT (591 hp). Then choose front Independent, pneumatic vs Independent, spring; speed and mass are the same. 3. Need the lowest measured kerb among petrol cars? → 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1695 kg). You give up 20 hp, 0.1 s, and 3 top speed vs 591 hp; you gain 40 kg vs 1735 kg. CO2 not measured. 4. Need 120 mm clearance? → only 6.2 DCT (571 hp, 1735 kg, spring/spring). Same 571 hp speed as the light 571, but +40 kg kerb and +21 mm vs 99 mm cars.
There is no catalogue price, so “extra money” here means extra hp, Nm, AWD, or clearance — not a sticker. On that arithmetic, 20 hp on 6.2 DCT buys 0.1 s and 3 km/h; 159 hp and 350 Nm on AT (750 hp) buy AWD and 0 CO2, not a quicker sprint or a higher top speed than the 591 hp 6.2 DCT.