Tuesday 31st May 2011

Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster Revealed

First pics and official details of Mercedes' new super soft-top

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Mercedes has revealed the long-awaited soft-top version of its SLS AMG supercar.

As you might expect, the SLS Roadster is more than broadly based on the coupe version of the car, right down (mercifully) to the 6208CC, 563bhp, 479lb ft V8 and AMG 7-speed twin-clutch transmission with double declutch function.

There is of course a significant difference between the Gullwing SLS and the Roadster - that retractable fabric roof. Said fabric soft top can be opened and closed while on the move at up to 30 mph - a process completed in just 11 seconds - and is built from three-layer fabric, magnesium, steel and aluminium.

Roadster owners will lose just three litres of boot space compared with coupe drivers, too, with the SLS Roadster capable of swallowing 173 litres of luggage.

Of course, lopping the roof off a coupe does tend to increase a chassis's wobbliness somewhat, so the SLS Roadster's aluminium spaceframe is duly reinforced to counter this. Clever weight-paring means the roadster's spaceframe, at 243kg, is just 2kg heavier than the coupe's while the car's overall weight is 1660kg, a mere 40kg more than the coupe's overall kerb weight.

The Roadster's performance is therefore near identical to the coupe's, with 0-62mph dealt with in 3.8secs (the same as in the coupe) and a top speed of 196mph (a mere 1mph down on the coupe's vmax)

UK spec and pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Continental Europeans can buy one for €195,160 (including 19 per cent VAT), which works out in 'proper' money as around £170k, give or take.

 

[Adrian W]

I thought the whole point was the Gull wing doors

[Dempsey1971]

How to turn an ugly coupe into a really ugly open top. Have never really got the SLS, but surely it's USP is the gullwing doors?

[kambites]

It certainly seems to split opinions on the styling - I think it's a good looking thing in both guises.

[montyvr6]

Now that most convertibles claim to have the same performance etc of the hardtop and in most cases the look of the car is retained, why do people buy the hardtop in the first place?

Modern rag tops are as warm and dry in the winter as a tin top, so its a no brainer to me to have the option to drop the roof for the one week of summer we get each year!

[kambites]

montyvr6 said:

Now that most convertibles claim to have the same performance etc of the hardtop and in most cases the look of the car is retained, why do people buy the hardtop in the first place?

Modern rag tops are as warm and dry in the winter as a tin top, so its a no brainer to me to have the option to drop the roof for the one week of summer we get each year!

In theory, handling. Convertibles tend to be rather wobbly. Security can be another reason - it's rather hard to stop people breaking into a soft-top.

[Janosh]

Wow - opinion slitting indeed! I think it looks gorgeous with the roof down and that is no doubt the best way of enjoying the soundtrack

[montyvr6]

Adrian W said:

I thought the whole point was the Gull wing doors

Maybe the could incorporate the doors into the roof. So you have a fabric door like a Cateram but when the roof goes down it takes the door with it, Z1 style.

[durbster]

Wow, I didn't realise just how long the nose was on these until I saw that profile shot. Maybe the British Navy should buy a few instead of spending billions new aircraft carriers.

Is that the longest bonnet in production?

[montyvr6]

kambites said:

montyvr6 said:

Now that most convertibles claim to have the same performance etc of the hardtop and in most cases the look of the car is retained, why do people buy the hardtop in the first place?

Modern rag tops are as warm and dry in the winter as a tin top, so its a no brainer to me to have the option to drop the roof for the one week of summer we get each year!

In theory, handling. Convertibles tend to be rather wobbly. Security can be another reason - it's rather hard to stop people breaking into a soft-top.

Granted the torsional rigidity can be reduced, but in the real world are most owners going to notice the missing few percent at the limit? Granted on the security but I would imagine an SLS is impossible to steal without its keys so only really a break in issue for your Gucci sunglasses on the passenger seat.

[Mr Trophy]

durbster said:

Wow, I didn't realise just how long the nose was on these until I saw that profile shot. Maybe the British Navy should buy a few instead of spending billions new aircraft carriers.

Is that the longest bonnet in production?

Alittle like the Z4. Such a long nose for such a small car if that makes sense?

[kambites]

montyvr6 said:

Granted the torsional rigidity can be reduced, but in the real world are most owners going to notice the missing few percent at the limit? Granted on the security but I would imagine an SLS is impossible to steal without its keys so only really a break in issue for your Gucci sunglasses on the passenger seat.

Obviously I haven't driven this, but the lack of rigidity in something like a 911 Cab is pretty damned obvious, even at relatively low speed.

[kambites]

Mr Trophy said:

Alittle like the Z4. Such a long nose for such a small car if that makes sense?

It's not a small car, it's just a very long nose.

[vintageracer01]

Dempsey1971 said:

How to turn an ugly coupe into a really ugly open top. Have never really got the SLS, but surely it's USP is the gullwing doors?

In deed! This car has no class what so ever. The original would have deserved a much more elegant successor.

[JonnyFive]

I personally think that looks very good!

[Beefmeister]

I love the SLS, easily my favourite car of the moment. Yes the doors are one of the SLS's USPs, but so is the incredible engine, noise, handling, great interior and long range continent crushing ability.

Being able to drop the roof will make the aural experience even more incredible.

The only reservation I have about the Roadster is a rather practical one. Having done many miles in an SLS, doing some mundane shopping type stuff in it as well, I had to park it in many parking spaces. The SLS is WIDE, very wide. As in there are only a couple of inches either side of the wheels each side when parked in a normal space. The Gullwing gets away with it because the doors only swing out about 10 inches, so you are unlikely to hit another car.

However this Roadster is the same width, yet has normal doors. I'd honestly say that you wouldn't be able to park it in a single space and get out (with the roof on).


Still, that's one small blemish on a very good looking car (IMO).

[Henry Hawthorne]

montyvr6 said:

Now that most convertibles claim to have the same performance etc of the hardtop and in most cases the look of the car is retained, why do people buy the hardtop in the first place?

Modern rag tops are as warm and dry in the winter as a tin top, so its a no brainer to me to have the option to drop the roof for the one week of summer we get each year!

I agree that I'd always rather go for a softtop but:

a. In most cases the look of the car is not retained (i.e. here)
b. It's more expensive
c. It's more to go wrong
d. Some people just don't like convertibles

[Ari]

Stunning, I love it!

Shame about the fabric roof though. Given that Mercedes practically invented the modern folding hard top with the SLk and SL, it seems a shame they've not used one here.

[George H]

Love it, and really glad they haven't put in the folding metal roof on this one. Doesn't need it, and pointless adding more weight.

[soad]

JonnyFive said:

I personally think that looks very good!

Yes, me too! Really like it

[MarJay]

Being that I enjoy the experience of driving a tight good handling car, I think I'd generally prefer a coupe to a convertible. Plus the main reason I'd want an SLS is because of the Gullwing doors. The convertible somehow doesn't look 'all that' and actually reminds me a little of an XJS convertible...

Still, if someone bought me one, I wouldn't say no!