Mercedes-Benz released today the first official images of the new SLS AMG Roadster, together with its initial specifications. Right from the start, Mercedes mentions that the coupe and the SLS Roadster have been developed in parallel. This means that the new roadster is not just a chopped up version of the coupe, but a vehicle developed from ground up. Daimler's engineers paid special attention to the bodyshell rigidity and driving dynamics of the SLS Roadster. Other areas on which they focuses include the soft top and the NVH, or "Noise, Vibration and Harshness".
The world premiere of the Mercedes SLS Roadster will take place at the 2011 International Automobile Show in Frankfurt in September 2011. The on sale date of the roadster SLS has not been announced yet.
The roadster version of the Mercedes SLS AMG features a fabric soft-top which can be opened and closed electrohydraulically at speeds of up to 50 km/h. Usually, the roadster version of any coupe weighs significantly more due to added rigidity elements. However, the bodyshell of the SLS AMG roadster weighs 243 kg, while the coupe tips the scale at 241kh.
With the SLS Roadster AMG, Mercedes used the same 6.3 liter engine with an output of 420 kW/ 571 hp and 650 Nm of torque. In terms of performance, the SLS roadster should match the coupe,
with a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h.
The Mercedes SLS Roadster comes with a few modifications in the aluminum spaceframe department. It features a reinforcing cross-member behind the seats which supports the fixed rollover protection system. The space created acts like a subwoofer housing for the two 165-millimetre speakers and the 250-watt Bang&Olufsen subwoofer of the Mercedes SLS roadster.
The Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster price list and availability will be announced at a later date.
