The article was originally produced on February 28, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Mercedes SLS AMG

Mercedes SLS AMG, Måsvinge-Mercan, we have previously driven in Cars Collection and then raised it to the skies for the sound and the insanely delicious design. However, there were a few things that were missing, a rock hard sports chassis, rock hard carbon fiber shell seats, ceramic brakes and above all, the Nürburgring! 

When Mercedes in Sweden brought out their second SLS press van, they had thought about and changed the options that were missing from the first one. Now the car had a rock-hard sports chassis from AMG, which meant a fairly decent reduction in comfort during normal road driving, but a considerable improvement when full attack on the racing track. The version without the sports chassis actually felt a bit spongy when going fast and the road started to turn. In order not to move around like a mitten in the cabin, the standard seats were now replaced with leather-covered "vices". The standard steel brakes, which normally put a stop to most things, but which eventually had to give way during braking from two hundred to zero, were replaced by ceramic carbon fiber discs. These brakes take you from two hundred to zero without a hint of stalling. All day if you want. With this spec, Sverker Dahl at Mercedes had given the matt gray SLS AMG the nickname Sportiff!

For those who are interested in cars and actually appreciate driving a little harder with their car and have managed to remain unaware of the Nürburgring or The Green Hell (Green Hell) as the track is also called, here is an update. Incidentally, it was three-time F1 world champion, Jackie Stewart, who gave the track its nickname. A much kinder and more popular name is The ring.

The Nürburgring is located in the Eifelbergen, a green and hilly area near Cologne in western Germany. In the early 20th century ADAC's Eifelrennen was run on public roads in the Eifel mountains but this was found to be too dangerous and in 1927 the Nürburgring was completed and the track became one of the most famous in racing history. In addition to competitions, the automotive industry has for years used the track for testing new models. Currently, there are two parts of the Nürburgring that you can drive on. Partly the grand prix circuit where F1 is still run today, but also a number of other racing races. And then there is the approximately 2 mile long Nordslinga, a fiendish but wonderful hilly course with minimal or sometimes non-existent space for exits. The Nordslingan is a bit special compared to other tracks around the world and that's because it's a public road section, you pay a road fee of €22 for a lap and then you just drive. The requirement for your car is that it is registered for street use and insured. On the track itself, there is free speed and overtaking on the left side. The ways to get to the Nürburgring vary from person to person. But an easy way is to take the ferry from either Malmö or Trelleborg in the evening, then you sleep comfortably on the boat during the night and arrive in the morning with about 60 miles to go to the Eifelbergen.

The fourth thing missing from the first test of the SLS AMG was the Nürburgring and to change this, and make the most of the stay, we took the chance to participate in the Gran Turismo Event's annual Nürburgring trip. GTE organizes a number of trips per year to different tracks and road sections in Europe where you can go with your own car and enjoy free driving in perfect conditions. Most of the participants have sports cars in the more exclusive class and the SLS AMG blended in perfectly like a glove. What's unique about Gran Turismo's trip to the Nürburgring is the number of days you get on the track without other cars and motorcycles. To clarify this, it is the case that during so-called tourist driving that prevails on normal days, anyone can drive on the track, standard cars, vans and above all motorcycles, this of course causes problems for those who wish to drive empty laps and not constantly be obstructed by slow-moving vehicles ahead. More info about Gran Turismo Events can be found most easily on their website granturismoevents.com.

As I described earlier, the comfort in the SLS AMG deteriorates considerably with the hard chassis and seats, so the journey down from Sweden is not one of the most comfortable. Once down and just rolled out of the pit and onto the track, you immediately get your reward for all those murky miles that left their mark on your back. When the right foot is planted in the bottom position, the SLS AMG shoots off like a rocket. The V8 with its 571 horses roars furiously out of the pipes in the back. Nothing new here compared to the standard version, but when you get to the first corner the difference is immediately noticeable, full braking from 170 km/h and into the turn, the SLS AMG lies as cast and the roll is non-existent. The firm grip from the seats means an unchanged sitting position at the end of the curve, just the way it should be! Despite their weight of nearly 1700 kilos and full braking at every corner from speeds well above normal, the ceramic brakes grip just as superbly before every corner, a matting seems as distant as a pair of downward-pointing lips. 

The feeling of being able to drive on the Nürburgring a mixture of terror and happiness. The concentration that is required is far above what a normal car driver is faced with in everyday traffic. And you don't have to drive at the limit of your skills to be able to enjoy, but in the beginning you need a certain local knowledge of the special characteristics of each curve, something that can only be achieved through several laps at lower speeds but actually also through video games and watching movies on the internet. It's only when you start finding your way around the 74 turns that it really starts to be fun, but even here you shouldn't overestimate your ability. If there is an accident at the Nürburgring, it often happens very quickly and also often becomes an expensive story. The feeling that comes after the last turn and after a well-executed lap on the back of the Nordslingan in the Mercedes SLS AMG "Sportiff" exceeds most things in the physical world. It doesn't get more fun than this on four wheels!

+ Stable as a tank with the sports chassis and the shell seats. The ceramic brakes never wear out.

- Still risk of bumps on the head when getting out and the AC controls don't feel 100%.