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2011 De Tomaso SLS gets pre-Geneva name change

The De Tomaso SLS may just hold the record for the shortest vehicle nameplate in automotive history.


The vehicle – revealed in further detail here in these new pre-Geneva Motor Show images – was renamed SLS (Sport Luxury Sedan) just days ago, after previously being called the SLC (Sport Luxury Crossover) in the development and pre-production stages.

But De Tomaso has already confirmed the BMW 5 Series GT-esque vehicle will get a new production name at the Geneva Motor Show, meaning the SLS nameplate will survive for just a couple of days.

It’s hard to say what was behind the name change. We understand it is De Tomaso’s way of positioning the vehicle in the right market segment, preferring to have the vehicle compared with sedans rather than crossovers and SUVs.

Or perhaps someone at De Tomaso was daydreaming about the new Mercedes-Benz Gullwing on the day they were printing the promotional material, and rather than do a reprint, the company simply decided to stick with the typo.

Judging by recent reports, however, it’s unlikely to have anything to do with saving money. De Tomaso’s new Chairman, Gian Mario Rossignolo, has committed to investing 116 million euros ($156 million) into the company’s resurrection, which will include three all-new vehicles: the SLS, a luxury sedan and a coupe.

The production version of the SLS is expected to be launched in Europe before the end of the year with two high-performance engines: a 221kW V6 and a range-topping 405kW V8. A 184kW V6 diesel will also join the line-up in 2012.

CarAdvice will bring you the official unveiling of the De Tomaso SLS this week, along with all the other news from the Geneva Motor Show.

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