Mercedes Previews SLS Roadster
Mercedes-Benz has released the first pictures and details of the SLS AMG Roadster, four months ahead of the official launch at the International Automobil Ausstellung in Frankfurt, Germany.
Like its gullwing-coupe counterpart, the open version of the top-of -the-line Mercedes is powered by a 571-horsepower V8 engine built by AMG. The roof can be lowered at speeds of up to 30 mph.
The German engineers have moved mountains to maintain chassis rigidity without adding too much weight. They succeeded remarkably well: the roadster chassis weighs 540 pounds compared with the coupe chassis at 536 pounds.
Another focus point during the development has been the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness.
The car is pictured during some of its many pre-production tests, and the prototypes will be subjected to many more before the official launch in September.
The convertible SLS is powered by the same 571-horsepower V8 built by AMG, the performance division of Mercedes-Benz.
The German engineers have moved mountains to maintain chassis rigidity without adding too much weight. They succeeded remarkably well: the roadster chassis weighs 540 pounds compared with the coupe chassis at 536 pounds.
Another focus point during the development has been the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness.
The car is pictured during some of its many pre-production tests, and the prototypes will be subjected to many more before the official launch in September.