Ex-F1 driver David Coulthard drives Mercedes' new SLS E-Tron prototype.
Last week Mercedes-Benz released a few bits of information on its electric SLS AMG E-Cell, and now they've let ex-F1 racer and BBC F1 pundit David Coulthard get behind the wheel. As Iron Jaw (I swear, his jaw is even bigger than I remember) explains in the video, the cool thing about electric motors is that they supply maximum torque from zero rpm all the way up to the top of the rev range. The fact that it's also all-wheel-drive (four electric motors supply power to each wheel respectively) means that it gets off the line extremely quickly.
Since each wheel is independently powered, Mercedes engineers will also be able to do some interesting things in the handling and stability department. Depending on the situation, power can be sent or cut to each wheel, and since it's all electric it should have (pun completely intended) lightning quick responses.
The E-Cell is only a prototype at this point, but it appears to be a very polished prototype. The reworked front fascia, with its extendable front spoiler, looks the beans and the well appointed interior, with touch screen center console interface and sci-fi gauge cluster, looks like a very nice place to be. Mercedes still has some work to do though. The prototype's range is only about 100 miles, but Mercedes promises an energy recuperation system of some sort to extend this.