2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG 4-door

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is going domestic. How else can you explain rumors that Mercedes could transform its gullwing supercar into a quasi-sedan, complete with two tiny rear-hinged doors to permit access to a back seat. In its current guise, theSLS AMG Coupe and Roadster are strict 2-passenger machines—great for a blast on the Autobahn, though perhaps not so handy during the school run. According to our sources, that fact has inspired someone at Mercedes HQ to pay a visit to the German patent office. The result, after a little re-engineering, could be a car that looks very similar to these illustrations.

The 4-Door Coupe Craze

The market for sedans with bold coupe-like designs has rapidly expanded these past few years, with the Audi A7, Mercedes CLSand upcoming CLC, and BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe all joining the party. Even more mainstream automakers like Hyundai, with its swoopy Sonata sedan, have gotten in on the action. But transforming a 2-door sports car into a sedan is fairly new territory. A similarly small rear-hinged door was offered on the discontinued Saturn SC2 Coupe (though only on one side of the car). Regardless, we doubt Mercedes would appreciate the comparison.

At least the gullwing doors will remain. The stretched wheelbase—needed to carve out room for a rear seat—should provide a softer and smoother ride, though we’re hoping overall handling prowess doesn’t suffer. Those extra doors, and the bracing needed to keep the chassis rock-solid, will also likely bump the curb weight, which presently stands at 3575 lb. for the SLS AMG Coupe. Then again, Mercedes could raise the power output of the 563-bhp 6.2-liter V-8 to counter any additional pounds.

There is still no word regarding pricing, or even an official name.