Mercedes release first details of SLS AMG Roadster

Mercedes-Benz has released images and details of the upcoming SLS AMG Roadster. The Roadster will do away with the upwards-opening doors of the SLS Gullwing in favour of a fabric soft-top.

Mercedes says that the Gullwing was always designed with a convertible counterpart in mind, which is evident from the Roadster’s exterior design that remains largely the same. The identifiable long-bonnet is retained, which is complemented by a sleek rear to allow for the three-layered fabric top that features a construction combination of magnesium, steel and aluminium. Some details are still hidden by black foil including the headlights and badges.  

The roof, which Mercedes say can open in 11 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h, has limited the Roadster’s top speed to 317 km/h. Acoustic differences have also meant that the 250-watt Bang&Olufsen sound system had to be redesigned for audiophile Mercedes drivers, with the speakers being shifted to a subwoofer housing in the cross-member.  

The Roadster is to feature the same engine as the Gullwing; a 6.2 litre V8 producing 571 hp and 650 Nm of torque. Official performance figures have not been released yet but it’s fairly safe to assume they will be similar to the Gullwing’s 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds, as the addition of a soft-top has added only 2kg. Although you would think cutting off the roof and Gullwing doors would save weight, the Roadster’s bodyshell had to be bolstered to retain similar handling dynamics to the Coupé. Therefore supporting struts at the windscreen frame and centre tunnel, as well as a strut mounting stay between the soft top and the fuel tank were added.

As Tobias Moers, the head of overall development and member of the Executive Board at Mercedes-AMG, explains: “Without bodyshell rigidity there are no handling dynamics, and neither can the close fit of the soft top be guaranteed."   

The SLS AMG Roadster is scheduled to premiere at the Frankfurt International Automobile Show in September.