Fifth Gear pushes the Mercedes SLS AMG to 160 mph on Isle of Man
Tiff Needell took the Mercedes SLS AMG to its limits on unrestricted roads in the Isle of Man, showcasing the supercar’s performance in a rare real-world speed test.
Tiff Needell took the Mercedes SLS AMG to 160 mph on public roads in the Isle of Man for an episode of Fifth Gear, making use of the island’s famously unrestricted speed limits to demonstrate the car’s full potential. The test put the SLS AMG’s naturally aspirated V8 to work in conditions few drivers will ever experience outside a track.
SLS AMG performance on open roads
The Isle of Man is one of the few places in Europe where certain public roads have no speed limit, offering a rare opportunity to test a supercar at high speed outside a closed circuit. Fifth Gear’s challenge was to reach 160 mph, a target Needell achieved with the SLS AMG’s 6.2-litre V8 delivering 571 PS (563 hp) at 6,800 rpm and 650 Nm of torque at 4,750 rpm. The car’s dry sump lubrication and rear transaxle layout helped maintain stability and balance even at high speed.
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, who has also driven the SLS, has remarked that the car’s character comes alive above 60 mph, a point underlined by the Fifth Gear test. The SLS’s long nose, gullwing doors and rear-wheel drive layout recall the classic 300SL, but its performance is entirely modern. The car weighs 1,620 kg and sits low at just under 1.3 metres tall, aiding both aerodynamics and handling at speed.
Technical details and market position
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the SLS AMG at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales began in Europe in mid-2010 with a price of €177,310, and the model later reached the US market for under $200,000. The SLS AMG’s M159 V8 engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, sending power to the rear wheels. The car’s wheelbase is 2,680 mm, overall length 4,638 mm, and width 1,939 mm, with a power-to-weight ratio of 348 bhp per tonne.
| Engine | 6.2-litre V8 (M159), naturally aspirated |
|---|---|
| Power | 571 PS (563 hp) at 6,800 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 4,750 rpm |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Kerb weight | 1,620 kg |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.8 seconds (manufacturer claim) |
| Top speed | 317 km/h (197 mph) |
SLS AMG in context
The SLS AMG marked a new era for Mercedes’ performance division, being the first AMG model developed entirely in-house. Its combination of retro styling cues and modern engineering placed it in direct competition with other high-performance supercars of its era, such as the Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia. The Fifth Gear test highlighted the SLS’s ability to deliver both drama and control at very high speeds, reinforcing its reputation as a usable yet thrilling supercar.
