Wednesday 27th October 2010

Merc SLS Convertible In 'Birds-Eye' Expose

AMG Gullwing loses its top; needs a new nickname...

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Who's going to be first to think of a new nickname for the convertible version of the SLS AMG Gullwing? Not us, sadly, so unless you lot have any bright ideas we'll park that one...

Meanwhile, check out this 'birds-eye view' picture of the next SLS variant which has just burst onto the internet - the first with its roof down, we believe.

The overhead angle delivers our best look yet at the convertible which has been 'scooped' in various states of disguise over the past few months. According to various sources, the car features an electrically-operated tonneau, with a fabric covered and aluminium-framed folding roof in place of the iconic gullwing doors on the coupe, and thus not the folding hardtop that might have been expected.

It's a weight and complexity issue, we understand, and given AMG's relentless pursuit of dynamic efficiency a canvas lid is all right by us. Equally, we're pretty sure the AMG bods will have worked their utmost to make sure there's no noticeable lack of stiffness, so performance and handling should remain on the mind-bending side of awesome.

As far as we know, the convertible will retain the Gullwing's 6.2 litre V8, but as the car won't be revealed in production trim until the Frankfurt motor show next Autumn, there'll be plenty of opportunities for a technical tweak or two along the way.

Still, at the very least we expect the SLS convertible to retain a maximum speed in the region of 200mph, which still sounds like flying to us.

[binlicker]

I NEEEEEED one of these cars in my life!!!!

[Blayney]

Nickname it an Ostrich, fastest bird on land, flightless obviously (no 'gullwing').

Am I thinking about this too much?

[JulianHJ]

Looks like a Z8...

[bencollins]

Blayney said:

Nickname it an Ostrich, fastest bird on land, flightless obviously (no 'gullwing').

Am I thinking about this too much?

Beat me to it.
Looks like a penguin in the piccy.
But road runner seems more appropriate.
Must get an ACME car theft kit.

[Luke.]

Now looks even more like an S2000.

[adycav]

Luke. said:

Now looks even more like an S2000.

Can't see that myself.

Anyway, nice car - roof down = all the better to hear that glorious engine.

[soad]

Prefer coupe as always.

[vintageracer01]

JulianHJ said:

Looks like a Z8...

What ???

The Z8 has so much more class than this crap car.

Merc just missed it completely to honour their very own 300 SL properly.
They just did not understand their own heritage.

[kambites]

vintageracer01 said:

The Z8 has so much more class than this crap car.

Whilst I'd agree that that's true, unfortunately the Z8 was, um, kinda rubbish. This is apparently one of the best cars in the world, so I can forgive it its brashness.

[Hairspray]

Yes please.

[TheRoadWarrior]

Loving the black 'camo' job AMG have done...




Guys...


THERES NO ROOF!!

It's an SLS with NO ROOF.. THATS WHAT YOU NEED TO CAMO!!!

[mybrainhurts]

Does nothing for me...

[kambites]

I must admit, I do think the proportions make it look like a (very large) S2000 in that picture. That's not really a bad thing though, at least it doesn't look like a Z4.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 26th October 21:21

[ticketmaster123]

Feels to me like they have turned the most fantastic looking car into something rather dull.

[nsmith1180]

Looks good to me, a nice motor! I was thinking the AMG SLS "Clipped Wing" might be appropriate.

[adz13091982]

Coupe yes - vert no. Not a patch on the SLR.

[RichB]

Pistonheads said:

Who's going to be first to think of a new nickname for the convertible version of the SLS AMG Gullwing?

That'll be the SLS AMG Clipped-wing

[hornetrider]

Article said:

It's a weight and complexity issue, we understand, and given AMG's relentless pursuit of dynamic efficiency a canvas lid is all right by us. Equally, we're pretty sure the AMG bods will have worked their utmost to make sure there's no noticeable lack of stiffness, so performance and handling should remain on the mind-bending side of awesome.

That's mighty presumptious of you.

[Gizmo!]

Beetlewing, I think.

I think this may possibly be a fabulous looking car. That delicate curvy rear will look amazing without the roof's rear pillars messing it up.

[Charmless man]

I never used to be a fan of the SLS. From all the images I've seen in magazines and on the web it just didn't do anything for me. Having seen an SLS in a showroom recently I'm now converted. It looks so much more striking in the flesh. I'll take one of each!