Mercedes-Benz AMG’s flagship SLS AMG supercar recently was named Performance Car of the Year 2011 by Automan, Oman’s leading car magazine.

Inspired by the original 1950’S Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, the SLS AMG was the first supercar to be designed and built from the ground up in Affalter-bach.

The SLS AMG took the top spot following a year of testing against competitors by the editorial team of the auto magazine, a statement said.

“To receive the first ever Omani award for Performance Car of the Year is a real honour. In many ways the success of the SLS AMG reflects the winning formula of Oman, taking the heritage of its past and combining it with cutting edge 21st century technology to reach great new heights,” said Craig Hardie, CEO–Automotive of Zawawi Trading Company, the sole distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Oman.

“In either body style - gullwing or roadster - the SLS AMG is a perfect representative of the AMG performance brand.”

Zawawi Mercedes-Benz launched the new SLS AMG Roadster in January, which has jettisoned the iconic gullwing doors of its predecessor, and com-bines an aluminium spaceframe body with an AMG 6.3-litre V8 front-mid engine with dry sump lubrication to develop a peak output of 571 hp and 650 Newton metres of torque.

The compact fabric soft top of the SLS AMG Roadster marks an evolution for the ground breaking super sports car, opening and closing in just eleven seconds, and able to be operated on the move at speeds up to 50 km/hr.

Automan's publisher Hatim Al Taie said: "The SLS AMG Coupé was tested extensively by our editors on the Yas Marina track and we are glad to see the car win the award from within a highly competitive segment.”

“The SLS showed superb power, handling, style and performance and offers exceptional value among top-end sports and supersports cars."

The Car of the Year awards was instituted by Oman's only car magazine, Automan, to mark its 12th anniversary, and is unique in its focus only on models available in Oman during the past year.

The vehicles are scored based on test drives conducted by Automan’s editorial team, with most featuring in the magazine's monthly issues. Winners were decided in 15 categories covering all cars and SUVs.

Automan Editor, Raj Warrior said: “What really impressed us was just how serious Mercedes-Benz has upped the game in the supercar segment by offering an innovative product that matches both in status and in speed. With a 0-66km/hr time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 315km/hr, the SLS AMG can truly lay its claim as a befitting successor to the original Gullwing.” – TradeArabia News Service