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Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster (2011) more pics
By Mark Hamilton
First Official Pictures
29 May 2011 00:01
AMG has released a full portfolio of images for the upcoming SLS AMG Roadster, giving us our first full view of the drop-top V8 sports car ahead of its debut in autumn 2011.
Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster: the lowdown (top-down)
Off come the SLS gullwing doors, away goes the roof structure and on goes a set of conventionally hinged doors to match the convertible soft-top. It's a power-operated three-layer cloth roof with heated glass rear window, capable of transitioning from 'English summer... ' closed to 'it's stopped raining!' open in 11 seconds. The roof folds in a z-shape to rest behind the seats and above the boot space, which at 173 litres only lsoes 3 litres to the SLS coupe, and performs its quick-change act at speeds up to 31mph. You can have your SLS AMG Roadster soft-top in either black, red or beige depending on which of the nine standard exterior and eight interior colours you choose.
Inside it's largely the same interior from the SLS, with lower sills and new armrest and door card design to match the conventional doors. Airscarf headrest climate control is optional, but fixed roll hoops, eight airbags and a slot-in plexiglass air deflector are standard with the SLS AMG Roadster. Also on the interior options list are Bang and Olufsen BeoSound AMG hi-fi, and AMG Performance Media: a timing and telemetry system which includes mobile internet access.
Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster: chassis and dynamics
Removing the roof from the SLS coupe has required additional strengthening of the aluminium spaceframe structure. Extra bracing has been installed behind the dashboard, in the side sills and behind the cabin, along with strengthened A-pillars. The end result is that the Roadster tips the scales at 1660kg, 40kgs more than the coupe. Comparing the SLS Roadster with other front-engined V8 two-seaters, an aluminium-bodied Aston Martin V8 Vantage S Roadster has a 1690kg kerb weight, whilst the composite-bodied Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport convertible is a relatively svelte 1492kg.
The SLS AMG Roadster comes standard with fixed-rate damping, but AMG Ride Control three-stage adaptvie damping is on the options list. New with the roadster, it offers Comfort, Sport and Sport + suspension settings, and will be offered on the SLS coupe after the Roadster is launched.
The SLS AMG Roadster comes standard with fixed-rate damping, but AMG Ride Control three-stage adaptvie damping is on the options list. New with the roadster, it offers Comfort, Sport and Sport + suspension settings, and will be offered on the SLS coupe after the Roadster is launched.
