The best cars from the Paris Motor Show 2012 you'll soon be able to drive
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive at Paris 2012
Merc’s SLS AMG E-Cell concept gets the go-ahead
Microsoft - Magic Car picsShow Thumbnails
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive at the 2012 Paris Motor Show
Mercedes is showcasing a few electric vehicles here at Paris as part of its plan for "zero-emission driving". None, however, are more appealing than this - the SLS AMG Electric Drive. Now you can drive like your hair is on fire with a clean conscience.
Paris Motor Show 2012: live
What is it?
Remember the lurid yellow SLS AMG E-Cell concept released back in 2010? Well this is the outcome of two years more fettling, tweaking and honing - it's the production-ready SLS AMG Electric Drive, and it's no less impressive than the E-Cell concept.
What's hot?
It's an electric SLS, for crying out loud. It's awesome. Why? Because its four in-wheel electric motors make a combined 750hp and 737lb ft of torque - a massive 258lb ft more than 6.2-litre V8 SLS AMG can muster, and available from just 1rpm.
Microsoft - Magic Car pics
What's not?
Electric motors mean the lack of a rumbling, barking V8 soundtrack - one of the SLS's defining characteristics. Just push that throttle a little harder, however, and that colossal torque output will get all of your attention, and you probably won't worry too much about the lack of aural drama.
How much and when?
The standard SLS AMG Coupé costs an impressively wallet-lightening £168,425 without options. The Electric Drive will set you back €416,500 - around £320,000 at today's exchange rate. If you're thinking of putting your hard earned down, it will be available in June 2013.
Anything else I should know?
All that go means a 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds, marginally slower than the 3.8-second offering from the 'standard' V8-engined variant. A range of 156 miles isn't bad either. Those sensational gullwing doors remain too, so you'll still look ultra-cool exiting the car in front of that restaurant, even if nobody will hear you coming.
Paris Motor Show 2012: live
On Bing: see images of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell
Find out how much a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is worth on Auto Trader
Read a Mercedes-Benz review on MSN Cars
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