As if the new SLS AMG wasn’t eye-catching enough, Mercedes-Benz had the foresight to see the increasing importance of electric vehicles in the marketplace, so it made sense to use the SLS AMG as a platform to show that electric powertrains could be exciting and had a future in sports cars. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2012 with deliveries beginning in 2013, it was anticipated that less than 100 examples would be built, but in reality production was far fewer. This car is beleived to be one of just nine examples completed.

Powered by four electric motors at each corner bringing a total output of 750 PS (740 bhp) and 1,000 NM of torque, the SLS AMG Electric Drive’s transmission allows for seamless four-wheel drive performance. The car’s lithium-ion battery pack at full charge could provide a range of 250 km. At the time of its introduction, this was the world’s fastest electrically-powered series production vehicle, and also the most powerful Mercedes-Benz ever built.

The SLS AMG Electric Drive boasts a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.9 seconds, just 0.3 seconds slower than the SLS AMG Black Series, an incredible achievement especially when considering that it weighs some 560 kg more than the standard SLS AMG. The driving experience is said to be truly incredible, thanks to the instantaneous torque provided by the electric motors upon acceleration either from a standstill or at speed. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel allow the driver to control the level of regenerative braking available, meaning that one-pedal driving can be achieved with ease.

Delivered new to Switzerland, the car currently resides in the Netherlands, this example has just under 3,800 km on its odometer, showing that it can be driven and enjoyed on the street and enjoyed as the manufacturers intended. It is accompanied by a file of service invoices from Mercedes-Benz authorized service centres, with the last service carried out in May of 2018 at 2,297 km. Looking to capture the excitement surrounding the car’s powertrain, the available powertrains were just as electrifying as the car itself. This specific example is finished in AMG’s Green Electric paintwork over a black leather interior and black wheels.

Following in the footsteps of the Tesla Roadster, the SLS AMG Electric Drive further confirmed to the industry that an electric-powered performance vehicle could be built utilizing the platform of a conventional gasoline-powered automobile. As governments continue the steady march towards electrification in the coming decade, manufacturers will be forced to follow suit. The SLS AMG Electric Drive showed that Mercedes-Benz is continuing to innovate in the industry as it has for over a century before and can provide performance and zero emissions in a single package. Lessons learned from the SLS AMG Electric Drive certainly helped in designing and developing vehicles like EQC, EQA, and EQS in production today. Believed to be one of only nine examples produced, these cars provided a rare glimpse into the future of the sports car, a future which is fast approaching, and as such the SLS AMG Electric Drive will continue to be highly sought after by collectors for years to come as it has set the standard for others to follow.