Rumors about a forthcoming Mercedes-Benz compact supercar, which will occupy a lower rank niche than the last new SLS AMG, were supplemented with new details. Thus, an upcoming coupe, which is called SLM for now and got the C177 factory body number, will be a hybrid.

The basis of the sports cars hybrid drive will be a 3.5-liter V6 engine which will produce up to 359 horsepowers and 110 horsepower electric motor will help it turn the wheel. The same electric motor was set in a mysterious sedan Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-in Hybrid, which arrived at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009 just for one day.

It is rumored that the new SLM (or SLM AMG) will appear in 2014-2015, and it will be equipped with conventional hinged doors, unlike its older brother SLS AMG. The main contenders for the new supercar will be Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo.