Every since Mercedes announced that the lack luster McLaren production has stopped, speculation and rumors flew for a while. For those who owned them, the trend to sell seemed to end. Why not, when a rare highly exotic car goes out of production, the existing ones value go up. Hm… Fords GT didn’t seem to fair that way, but maybe the SLS McLaren will suffer a better fate.

Well, a few months ago, spy photos of the new SLS started to emerge. Heavily guarded famous black panels and all, but Mercedes seemed to relish in the news leak and while trying to hide the general look of the front end, the rest of the car is easey to decipher. A few weeks ago, they let some reporters take the new 2010 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG for a spin at the famous Nurburgring and MotorTrend reporter, Arthur St Antoine had this to say.

MotorTrend posted an article just days ago regarding that first. Here’s an excerpt:

First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

We Fly the New Gullwing — the First-Ever All-AMG Benz — Through the World’s Greatest Race Track: The Green Hell.

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July 15, 2009

By Arthur St. Antoine

CLICK TO VIEW GALLERY

I’m barely three turns into my first lap, and already my brain has automatically activated its auxiliary data logger, the one reserved for “extra-special events.” I don’t want to forget a nanosecond of this. Partly, it’s a result of the venue. For the first time in my career, I’m driving on Germany’s 13-mile-long Nurburgring Nordschleife, a.k.a. “The Green Hell,” the most fearsome, challenging, and dangerous racetrack in the world. But my highly elevated pulse is also due in large measure to the screaming, whirling vehicle at hand. I don’t entirely know what it looks like — the prototype’s bodywork is still masked by tape and cardboard camouflage — but if these first few blitzkrieg corners are any indication, the all-new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG “Gullwing” is going to disrupt the supercar pantheon when it hits American roads next spring.

— Snagged only a portion 0f the article, read the rest on the MotorTrend site —

Fortunately, they also posted some pictures. Even with the disguises, you can see the basic shape of the car. This will be another car to watch and see what happens. So far, they’re suggesting the non AMG price to sit around $145,000 US dollars, so the additional AMG will probably shoot it up over $200K easily. We’ll see. Hopefully it wont be at the McLaren level and we’ll get to see a few more of these on the mean streets of a major metropolis near you.

The most striking new feature is of course, the doors. Mercedes hasn’t done a gull wing in a few years and with modern designs going in all directions, it’s cool to see a classic style come back. Love or hate Mercedes, they’re always innovating and coming up with new ideas, err, using old ones. Okay, still, Mercedes makes powerful, exciting and beautiful cars that make heads turn.

Looking past the black tape and cardboard, it looks a little more refined than the McLaren, which had the pointy nose. I hated that feature. With the release of the new E-Class and C-Class in recent months, they’re probably going with the more chiseled look. But that’s just pure speculation on my part.

As for the interior, not that exciting looking. Pretty standard Mercedes and carbon fiber galore. In fact, the tiny looking shifter that only has RND12 kind of scares me. I’m wondering if they installed their 7 speed automatic and there’s a C & S mode? As long as it has the Harmon Kardon stereo, the world will be right. No wait, if I want to listen the engine whine, I guess the HK might have to be turned down.

No matter your opinion, personally, I can’t wait to see the full unveiling. Until then, we can only look at these spy shots. (Looks a little like a SL65 AMG Black)

SL65 AMG Black

Looking at the specs on this car will blow anyone away. At some point, I’m going to drive one of these and see for myself. The Ariel has been around for a few years and they’re building them better and faster. Right now, they look to be in their third generation of production and build them to each owners specs … and, yes, this thing can be driven on the street, legally, well except for your speed, that’s a different form of legality.

Overview Specs:
Weight – less than 1,400
HP – 245
0 to 60 – less than 3 seconds (That’s wicked fast)

Go find a local rental company and see if they have it available to drive. I know I am!

This is one sick car. As an owner of a Lotus and having had the privilege of driving a Gallardo in recent years, I have to say, this looks a little like a Gallardo and Exige slammed together. You be the judge, but either love it or hate it, you have to admit, it’s one sick exotic car that will be getting some attention.

If-or-when I come into my next “Million Dollar Windfall”, I’ll be looking at something like this for sure. Since the Gallardo is a favorite and of course owning a Lotus, it would be awesome to have something this exotic in the garage. I even like the yellow color. My wife of course would beg to differ as it’d get too much attention, but it is a great looking color. Orange, Green and/or black are more favorites this might look good sporting.

Saleen S5S Raptor

In the market for a new supercar? Peep the Saleen S5S Raptor ($185,000). Just unveiled at the New York Auto Show, the supercharged Raptor drinks E85 ethanol and delivers 650 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 3.2 seconds, and a top speed of over 200 mph. Choose from a 6-speed manual or paddle shifting.

As soon as it’s for sale, look out!!!

Okay, this is pretty cool. I just got an email with the opportunity to drive the new Audi models July 31st through August 2nd AND you might want to watch some boat racing to boot. To participate, you have to go out to Lake Dillon up in Summit County. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. See you there.

BTW… I am not affiliated or know anyone at Prestige, I just thought this was cool. If interested, here’s the information:

2010 Evora

So, after seeing a Tesla in person and walking around the car, looking into the interior (Not much different than an Elise) it struck me that the over all look was kind of like the Evora. After reading everything I could about the Evora earlier in the year, I was convinced that it would be an awesome car when it’s relased for sale in 2010. I’ve been pouring over their site and studying the pictures, looking at the specs and while I really think it’s going to be a cool, slower version of the Elise, it just kept screaming, Tesla. I mean, the front end barely looked different. Not exactly the same, but so similar that that’s all I had in my head.

You be the judge. I just can’t keep thinking, Tesla, no matter how hard I try. As much as I love all things Lotus, I’m kind of having a hard time with the new Evora. The name was bad enough, now, the look is just too similar.

Unfortunately, it’s like that picture you have in your head of a particular person with a certain name, like Gretchen, or Gertrude. No matter what you do, every time you hear that name, it evokes something else. This is the same. Evora, Ebola, Tesla… I’m screwed on ever getting one now.