The global fascination with racing cars has been growing over the years. After the 2000s, we've seen many sports vehicles come off the production lines of prominent automobile brands, and most of them were not suitable for the street. Considering the newer exotic sports cars gained more powerful specs every year, we may say it's a good thing that we couldn't test them on the street.
The result of a global passion for racing cars drew people to compete and engage in racing events in every possible way. Naturally, the big sports-car companies followed the customers and gave their best to meet the growing demand for faster, more powerful, and more visually appealing track-ready vehicles. Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, and, of course, Mercedes-Benz were first on the line to offer innovations from 2010.
The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 was one of the notable racers built for the track and not for the street. Designed to comply with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), this sports car gave customers an option to compete in all kinds of events, from long- to short-distance ones. However, you could also enjoy the GT3 for weekend racing events (assuming you could afford such a pleasure).
But why is the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 still highly regarded today, ten years after the initial launch? What made it so special back in the day? How much do we know about it? Follow our comprehensive review to find answers to these and other interesting questions.
How Did Mercedes SLS Come To Be?
The 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 race car has its predecessor in the SLS AMG series. The first grand tourer that came from this unique racing-oriented lineup was designed by the Mercedes-AMG division of the German automobile manufacturer. It was built from scratch, gained an SLS nameplate to stand for the Super Light Sport, and saw the light of the day at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Generally speaking, the entire SLS series was more meant for the track than for the street. It could be said that the improved driving dynamics and the racing experience were behind the developers' decision to build this series. The AMG actually claimed the first SLS M159 engine with the output of 563-hp was the world's most powerful naturally aspired engine. However, while the SLS was track-oriented, it wasn't until the GT3 appeared in 2012 that the entire series got a racing-only, ready-to-take-the-competition car.
The SLS AMG GT3 Launched As The 45th Anniversary Race Car
So, Mercedes-AMG introduced the SLS GT3 version in 2010 at the New York International Auto Show. This race version had quite a few changes compared to the regular SLS models, mostly in favor of better performance. However, the real GT3 race car came in 2012. Until and after that year, the GT3 saw a couple of changes and was a part of the regular car production.
The 2012 Mercedes SLS GT3 was a limited edition race car made to mark the 45th anniversary of the AMG. We dare to say it did its job pretty well. The 2021 GT3 came in five examples, and each one of these cars with carbon fiber bodywork and graphite matte paintwork was made by hand in Affalterbach. But what's even more impressive is the power of this new variant.
The 2012 GT3 featured a superior 6.2-liter V8 engine that could produce a monstrous 600-hp. With a lightweight design and fantastic specs, the car proved it's ready to tackle the track. According to Mercedes, that was its primary role in the first place – to wow car collectors and those passionate about motor racing.
Take A More Detailed Look At The 2012 Mercedes SLS GT3
One look at this Mercedes racer, and it becomes clear the German manufacturer made a real effort to design a sleek and aerodynamic vehicle without compromising its beauty. The 2012 SLS GT3 is so elegant and low-grounded it blends with the track. The light-alloy wheels, the gull-wing doors, the mudguards, and other motorsport parts only add to the already aesthetically pleasing (and bold) look.
Things are not very different inside. The special edition of the GT3 offers a full race cage instead of the traditional interior. There are carbon-shell seats to match the similarly painted exterior, the intuitive commands, and much more. In essence, the 2021 Mercedes SLS GT3 Race Car does what it claims and looks good in the process, which is why we suppose its starting price was €446,250 for the European market.
So, to enjoy the 2012 Mercedes SLS GT3 back in the day, one had to pay quite a few greens (to say the least). The fees for hauling the car to the track for every ride are not included in this calculation. As there were only five models in total, even those who had the means to get and maintain the famous GT3 may have had difficulties acquiring it.