New Mercedes SLC planned

Mercedes Benz has secret plans for a front engine sports car positioned beneath the SLS. The new car has already been assigned an official code name and is expected to cost £75,000 at its launch in 2014.

The new car will be a joint project between Mercedes Benz passenger car division and AMG and will use the SLC moniker, a name last used for a fixed roof version of the fourth generation SL. However, this car will benefit from a unique design and fixed head and a fabric roof versions.

In order to keep development costs in check the new car will share various components with next year’s seventh generation SL. It will be more focused than the SL and key rivals are the Porsche 911 Carrera S and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Despite the visual similarities to the SLS the new SLC will be smaller, lighter and less powerful than its larger brother. The SLC is expected to measure around 4.5 metres long and weigh considerably less than the 1620kg that the SLS weighs in at. It will have 420bhp in standard guise, coming from a 90-degree 5.5 litre V8.