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2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster - Spy Shots

Discussion in 'SLS AMG' started by HighestOfHigh, Sep 21, 2009.

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HighestOfHigh Global Moderator

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is proving to be one of the more exciting offerings of the next couple of years, and as the spiritual successor to the renowned Gullwing 300SL of the 1950s it makes sense for the car to be offered in a roofless variant as well.

While there’s no official word yet from the automaker, it’s expected that a SLS AMG Roadster should surface sometime around late 2011 as a 2012 model. This would put it on a timeline to debut around a year after its tin-top Gullwing brother enters the market in 2010--a period that matches the amount of time it took for the SLS AMG’s predecessor, the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, to get its own roadster variant.

While speculation is rife as to whether the new model will be a folding hard-top, à la the current SL convertible, a soft-top variant like the SLR Roadster is more likely as these latest spy shots of the SLS AMG Roadster reveal. This will allow the car to be as light as possible, keeping it nimble around corners and quick on the straights.

Under the hood, the engine lineup will almost certainly remain consistent between the Roadster and the hard-top. Power will come from a revised version of AMG’s now-familiar 6.2-liter V-8 mated to an all-new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted on the rear axle. Peak output will stand at 571 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.

While the SLS AMG hard-top tips the scales at 3,571 pounds, it’s likely the Roadster variant will be nudging the 3,800 pounds mark or possibly even more. This should put a slight damper on performance compared to the hard-top, but then again those buyers opting for the Roadster variant don't necessarily put this at the top of their list of priorities.

The starting price in Germany is set at €177,310 (approximately $257,232) for the Gullwing Coupe--expect a slight premium for the Roadster.

- Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster - MotorAuthority

*Had no idea where to put this since the other spy shot thread was closed.

HighestOfHigh, Sep 21, 2009

#1
- Like x 2
Shining Star Contributing Member

Shining Star, Sep 21, 2009

#2
- Like x 6
Shining Star Contributing Member

...And here's the rendering...

Shining Star, Sep 21, 2009

#3
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abiazis New Member

looking good

awesome.

abiazis, Sep 21, 2009

#4
HighestOfHigh Global Moderator

Hmm...Looks good. Wonder how much it will cost compared to the coupe.

HighestOfHigh, Sep 22, 2009

#5
Shining Star Contributing Member

Shining Star, Sep 25, 2009

#6
rurella Premium Member

Gorgeous automobile!

rurella, Sep 25, 2009

#7
Tarek Well-Known Member

OMG..Marcus is gonna faint!

Tarek, Sep 25, 2009

#8
- Like x 2
Merc1 Premium Member

LOL........I'm getting up off the floor now!

This is going to be the must have come summer 2011. The coupe will take that spot for next spring/summer 2010.

M

Merc1, Sep 25, 2009

#9
Shining Star Contributing Member

Shining Star, Sep 28, 2009

#10
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HighestOfHigh Global Moderator

We've been all but assured that a convertible version of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was on the way, and now we've got photographic proof of the de-gullwinged drop-top weathering the wintery climes before its reveal in 2010.

Although Mercedes officials haven't divulged much about the SLS cabrio, it's likely to be fitted with a retractable soft-top rather than a folding hard-top in a bid to keep weight in check and retain some of the trunk's capacity. Naturally, the chassis will be fortified to increase rigidity, but considering the SLS AMG was designed from the onset to be both a coupe and a convertible, we suspect the extent of the modifications to be limited and the weight penalty to be minimal.

Some reports indicate that the SLS AMG Roadster could debut as early as the Geneva Motor Show in March, but if we were betting gentlemen, we'd suspect the convertible SLS to debut later in 2010, likely at the Paris Motor Show.

- http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/15/spy-shots-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-roadster/

HighestOfHigh, Dec 15, 2009

#11
Sunny Well-Known Member

Wonder why the AMG chief said he thinks their will be no SLS convertible?

What AMG's Dev Chief thinks about SLS, SLR, LFA, and CTS-V | Car News Blog at Motor Trend

Sunny, Dec 15, 2009

#12
Merc1 Premium Member

Old Article Sunny, why bother? Obviously we know there is going to be a SLS roadster now.

M

Merc1, Dec 15, 2009

#13
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Sunny Well-Known Member

It is just a little more than a month old. Funny thing is we had seen spy shots of the convertible even before that so I have no idea why he said that. Other interesting thing is, it is the convertible version of the original gullwing that became the SL. So I wonder what will happen to uber versions of new SL like SL65 if there is a new SLS convertible.

Sunny, Dec 16, 2009

#14
Wunderkind Well-Known Member

Maybe it's a targa and not a soft-top cabriolet.

Wunderkind, Dec 16, 2009

#15
dr Dunkel Global Moderator

Wunderkind said: ↑

Maybe it's a targa and not a soft-top cabriolet.

That would be both cool and relieve the car from some of the squareness of the roof.

dr Dunkel, Dec 16, 2009

#16
SKYSONY Well-Known Member

SKYSONY, Dec 16, 2009

#17
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Centurion Contributing Member

Sunny said: ↑

So I wonder what will happen to uber versions of new SL like SL65 if there is a new SLS convertible.

Don't think much will happen given that both cars are so different in character. One is the sports car and the other one is a comfortable luxury glider. The average 60 year old you see driving an SL would unlikely be comfortable in the sardin can-like cabin of the SLS. Ferrari California is the ultimate SL65 killer. Not only is it slight more practical but it will retain its value better than the SL65 which depreciates a staggering 40% in the first year.

Centurion, Dec 16, 2009

#18
Shining Star Contributing Member

Shining Star, Jan 8, 2010

#19
LaArtist Premium Member

It will be sexxy

LaArtist, Jan 8, 2010

#20

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