Remember the sleek two-seat Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed unveiled earlier this year? We now got word of its performance and can confirm it’s capable of some serious speed...when you’re not cruising around Monaco, of course.
Make for the hills above instead, and you’ll be treated to 577hp and 799Nm of torque from its twin-turbo V8. That’s good for 0-100ph in 3.6sec and a top speed of 314kph...with no windshield. But don’t worry, because occupants are provided with helmets to protect them from an army of surprised bugs.
That grunt translates to the road through a nine-speed multi-clutch transmission and Mercedes’ trusty 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, with other features including active suspension and ceramic brakes. It’s shaping up to be Mercedes-AMG’s most striking supercar since the AMG One.
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Sitting proudly above the bespoke body is a Formula 1-inspired ‘halo,’ which even has ambient lighting. Of course. Oh, and those helmets we mentioned? They come with built-in intercom systems, so you can carry on a conversation with your passenger at high speeds.
Pity the average SL—from which the PureSpeed is derived—doesn’t have the huge air scoops behind the seats, transparent deflectors at the front, or the extra carbon-fiber accents in sections like the 21-inch forged aluminum wheels. We’re not sure the red/black/gray livery is the most flattering for this shape, though.
The PureSpeed kicks off Merc’s new line of exclusive ‘Mythos’ cars, which will pay tribute to various racers from the past with subtle design touches. Just 250 units of these will be built, with an undisclosed price tag, but expect it to be priced well above the £198,000 (around P14.7 million before taxes) required for a fully loaded, top-spec SL63 ‘Ultimate.’ Yeah, this thing won’t come cheap.
More photos of the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
