2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS 63 AMG
Expected to make it's world premiere during the 2010/2011 auto show season, the 2011 SLS AMG Roadster will probably go on sale late next year. The Roadster won't differ mechanically from it's recently released sibling, the coupe, featuring the same 6.3L roaring V8 engine with 571HP and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque, but it is expected to gain more popularity.
The SLS AMG will most likely get a folding soft top, and enthusiasts will be happy to know that the SLS's performance credentials won't be compromised by a lot of additional weight, while less dedicated buyers might wonder why they shouldn't just get an SL with its fully retractable hardtop.
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster will abandon the iconic gullwing doors of the coupe in favor of a more traditional front-hinged door setup, which is more appropriate for a convertible. Other than the switch to more conventional door hinges, the SLS roadster looks exactly like its coupe counterpart. That means a long wheelbase, giant 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, and a 571-horsepower 6.2-liter V8. A dual-clutch seven-speed automated manual transmission will send the power to the rear wheels, while a fully independent suspension with dual-wishbone control arms both front and rear will support the all-aluminum chassis. However, the extra weight from the body strengthening might add a tenth or two to the roadster's test times.
Mercedes-Benz AMG couldn't have been comfortable with only producing their high-strung super cars (like the SL65 AMG Black Series) while Ferrari and Lamborghini turned up the heat, and as we see now, AMG set their sights on such an exquisite combination of elegance and power that really speaks volumes for where they are headed. The U.S. price tag, not surprisingly, is considerably lower than the retail sticker in Europe. When Mercedes began accepting orders last fall after the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, it pegged the price at roughly $201,000 — or $240,000. However, recently leaked numbers from Mercedes reveal a much lower starting price for the U.S. at around $183,000.
The 2011 SLS AMG represents the very best that AMG has yet produced. In fact, this is the first “clean sheet” AMG car in the 40 years of AMG's existence, meaning it was not based on any current platform.Volker Mornhinweg, the chairman of Mercedes-AMG, explained with passion at the press launch: “Our aim with this interpretation is to create the classic car of the future and put the most beautiful sports car of the 21st century on the road. Another of our goals is to create a new design icon that will help shape the incomparable story of our brand. At the same time, the new SLS is a harbinger of the design philosophy of future Mercedes-Benz sports cars.”
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