Mercedes has long produced some of the most lavish and undoubtedly head-turning cars on the road. In recent years, the Mercedes SLR McLaren was known as one of the finest sports cars on the planet. Not a company to rest on their laurels, Mercedes quickly went to work again to produce the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG to replace their award-winning model.

Sales are almost ready to begin for the SLS AMG in Europe, with the US market getting their taste in 2011. The price for this Benz is expected to be in excess of $200,000 USD, making it one of the more expensive sports cars on the road, although still behind other big names like Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Mercedes immediately picked up a lot of recognition for this model when it was first unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany. Although it’s not technically out on the road yet, it is already the safety car for the Formula One Championship series, and it is also already featured in the PlayStation 3 videogame Gran Turismo 5.

The design of the SLS AMG is supposedly an update to one of the Mercedes’ all-time models in the 300SL Gullwing. The short body of this car and the passenger placement nearer the real axle make it both compact and easier to handle at higher speeds than other similar models. The wing door set-up is akin to Lamborghini’s (or Benz’s Gullwing) doors; and the doors are fully detachable.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz is planning on releasing four separate versions of the SLS AMG. The first is going to be a coupe-style vehicle with the abovementioned door features. A gold-colored version of this car made its global debut at the Dubai International Auto Show.

From 2011 to 2013, Mercedes will release their second version of the SLS AMG – a soft-top roadster with basic doors. There is also set to be an electric version of the car, although critics are already lining up to speak out against an electric sports car, as it cannot possibly perform as well.

The final version of the SLS AMG Mercedes plans to release is the Black Series. This will be the most daring of all four models, as the Black Series will be extremely trimmed down and is expected to have a reduced overall weight of 661 pounds.

As far as performance goes, the Mercedes SLS AMG is a powerful car for its size. The M 159 V8 engine has a displacement of 378.835 cubic inches and redlines at 7200 RPM. Handling the task of proper gearing will be a standard transmission – a 7-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission with a lightweight carbon construction and multiple driving modes.

This Mercedes can definitely get up and go. It’s able to reach a speed of 60 MPH in only 3.8 seconds, and it has an electronically limited speed of 197 MPH (although the car is able to go much faster in theory). Carbon-ceramic disc brakes with 40% weight reduction are in place to slow the Benz down.