Mercedes has got a real point to prove after its behind-the-scenes falling out with McLaren boss Ron Dennis over his plans to create a Ferrari-esque range of supercars that will take over the world. The Germans want to show they've still got it, that the McLaren SLR was a mere blip.
Not a big job then. A perfect way to start that entire process would be to remind the world of your more than 100 years of heritage, perhaps by harking back to an iconic previous sports car that is recognised the world over. And that is the story of how the SLS AMG earned its gullwings.
Harking back to its '50s Gullwing car, the SLS is a full-on assault on the supercar establishment. The fruits of the McLaren collaboration just didn't quite hit the spot dynamically and emotionally, even if the SLR was very impressive technically. This latest car really needs to prove that Mercedes has fire in its cylinders.
It certainly looks the part, referencing the past without going retro. Mercedes' design department has been a bit shaky in recent years but the SLS AMG hits just the right notes of aggression and sporty dynamism. It is certainly more likely to go on a boy's bedroom wall than some of the company's other recent efforts.
AMG has done a tremendous job to tune the steering, and we would argue that this is the best Mercedes ever to drive. The handling is wonderfully communicative and has seemingly endless grip to exploit. It's incredibly well served by the expert suspension, which absorbs all of the bumps and ruts the road has to offer and just passes right over them. The SLS is one of the most comfortable cars in its segment to drive over long distances.
There's a tremendous character to the car that you don't necessarily expect. The cabin is wonderfully made, but then you'd expect that at this outrageous price. It's the 6.2-litre V8 engine burbling away up front that provides some wonderful theatrics to the experience. As you get higher up the rev range the engine just gets more operatic.
The 571bhp makes for almost indecent acceleration and the whole car adds up to a driving package that borders on the obscene. The more time you spend in the car the more it feels worth every penny of the asking price.