Driver's Notebook: Sexy Swabian

Christian Gulliksen

04/01/2004

Over the last 15-odd years, tennis fans tended to fall into two camps: Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi. While some savored the disciplined polish that Sampras parlayed into serial—and well-deserved—victories, others thrilled to Agassi’s moments of absolute brilliance, rising phoenixlike when least expected. I happened to cheer for Agassi—his gusto and imperfect virtuosity made for inconsistent tennis but superb entertainment.

Lorinser’s GS03 package is most notable for its bulging fenders and dramatic, sweeping lines.  (Click image to enlarge)

It is a sensibility that might explain why the Mercedes-Benz SL55 left me a little cold when I first drove it more than a year ago. Don’t get me wrong—there is a lot to like. Its curvaceous lines, for starters, seem pleasingly at odds with the car’s nationality. And of course, it feels like a grand tourer possessed by the spirit of an American muscle car, rumbling and snorting at idle, delivering a throaty exhaust note that could be heard in the next block on a still evening. No other luxury roadster can touch its handling and acceleration, and it excels without qualification in every performance-related category. Some indifferent interior materials (an increasingly common Mercedes-Benz bugbear of late) and overcomplicated stereo/navigation controls were the only real criticisms I could lob in the SL55’s direction back then.

So what was wrong? It was a little too perfect—even a bit precious—and while I endorsed its selection as Robb Report’s 2003 Car of the Year, I considered it a decision based on logic rather than emotion. The Jaguar XKR convertible, which was also in the 2003 Car of the Year contest, was notable for its perfectly matched, silken engine and transmission, but undermined by aging architecture and soft handling characteristics. Even though I knew the SL55 was the better car, I preferred the XKR, favoring Agassi-style personality over Sampras-like excellence. (Click image to enlarge)

And then I drove Lorinser’s spectacular GS03 widebody interpretation of the SL55, which significantly ups the personality quotient without sacrificing dynamic ability. In addition to turbine-style 20-inch rims and a sport exhaust, the package includes some of the most fantastically designed coachwork ever to grace an SL. The aggressive, stylized lines, accented by elegant mesh, are indisputably in-your-face but stop short of going over the top—at least in Los Angeles.  (Click image to enlarge)

A casual observer can easily see that the GS03 is customized, but the difference between the GS03 and the standard SL55 is not fully apparent until the two are parked side by side, at which point the unmodified car looks like the GS03’s plain-Jane sister. Custom bodywork can be seen from every angle. The rear spoiler below the bumper, with a swooping concave surrounding dual exhaust tips, has an almost Art Deco flavor. Angled slashes on either side of the doors accentuate the bulging fenders and serve practical cooling purposes. An exaggerated three-point star on a black background takes center stage on the grille and is the only element that failed to win me over. Although it is central to the design direction at Mercedes-Benz (witness the SLR and the new SLK), it strikes me as more clunky than attractive. Perhaps it will grow on me—I have become accustomed to the outsize badges on Cadillac Escalades—but if I were to order a GS03, I would take mine with a simpler face.


The black and red leather-swathed AMG cabin in this car challenges my general prejudice against M-B’s factory interiors. It is, in a word, delicious. High-quality materials, excellent craftsmanship, and a tasteful palette help me overlook the still-annoying stereo controls. 

Beautiful detailing includes 20-inch turbine-style wheels and the liberal use of mesh trim on the car’s fenders and grille.  (Click image to enlarge)

On the road, the GS03 performs almost identically to a stock SL55—which is to say that it is as good as a car like this has ever gotten. The larger wheels provide slightly sharper handling and better road feel, but otherwise it delivers the same thrusting acceleration—accompanied by a mellifluous snarl from the exhaust—and the same precise steering. It is a large, heavy car that feels more at home on long sweeps than in tight bends, but remains surefooted and flat through almost any corner a suburbanite will encounter. Around-town driving is not necessarily dramatic, though; with the top up and judicious pressure on the gas pedal, the GS03 becomes nearly docile in nature.

An outsize Mercedes-Benz star mounted on a black background adorns the grille, echoing the new factory look seen on the SLR and the forthcoming SLK. Like most of the GS03’s bold stylistic elements, it is not likely to get lost in the crowd. (Click image to enlarge)

I have the privilege of driving exceptional automobiles on a regular basis, but have never gotten as much positive reaction from other drivers as I did during that weekend with the GS03. On a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard that cuts through the Los Angeles Country Club, the driver of an SL500 pulled alongside, slowed and dropped behind me, and then maneuvered in front for a look through his rearview mirror. When we stopped next to each other at a red light, I got a huge smile and a hearty thumbs-up. He was by no means alone in his enthusiasm. Sometimes it is hard to know how a car like this will be received—automotive indulgence is just as likely to elicit hostility as approval—and I was stunned by the marked absence of scowls.

In just a few days, I became completely enamored of the GS03 and wondered how I could experience an utter about-face in my view of an SL55 when the difference was essentially skin deep. I believe that the wild bodywork did the trick for me, transforming the SL55 from a logical expression of a high-performance SL to a fabulous celebration of it. Adding to the GS03’s appeal is limited production; only 50 examples will be built worldwide, and the United States is slated for a scant 10 of the $189,000 cars. They are available only through Los Angeles–based CEC.  (Click image to enlarge)


Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG Lorinser GS03

CEC
310.203.3900
www.cecwheels.com