Rumors have been flying for over a year regarding a convertible version of the Mercedes SLS AMG gullwing coupe. Those rumors were recently confirmed with the German patent office filings for the SLS AMG Roadster. But don’t race to your Mercedes dealer just yet. The SLS AMG Roadster is not expected to be on the market until late 2011 as a 2012 model.
In Chicago, used Mercedes sports car fans can see the Mercedes SLS AMG which currently has several features the convertible version is expected to have. Based on the preliminary sketches, the SLS AMG Roadster will have an electric, soft fabric folding top. Because of this, it will have traditional front-hinged doors in place of the upward swinging gullwing doors seen in the Coupe. Other than that, the body work appears to be pretty similar between these two models. In Chicago, used Mercedes dealers can give drivers the chance to assess these similarities between models first hand.
The SLS AMG Roadster’s Coupe counterpart weights slightly over 3,500 pounds; expect the Roadster to be a few pounds heavier, possibly around 3,800 pounds due to body strengthening in this model. This slightly heavier model may make the Roadster slightly “slower”. And by “slower” I mean that it may just be tenths of a second slower than the current figures of the SLS AMG Gullwing which can get to 62 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and achieve a heart stopping top speed of 196 miles per hour. Around Chicago, Mercedes E-Class Wagon drivers looking for something sportier and with more speed may have found their dream sports car.
With these designs, we get some insight on where the future generation of Mercedes sports cars is headed, combining elegance and power. Personally, I think the Roadster looks better all around since it boasts a simpler design and better proportions. In Chicago, Mercedes E-Class Wagon drivers can also look forward to a speedier, sportier counterpart with the advent of the 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.
For the latest information and more details of the 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster, be sure to visit your local Mercedes dealer. Chicago drivers will certainly be in for a treat with this drop top, open cockpit model. But this all comes at a price – expect the SLS Roadster to come with a price tag in excess of $200,000.
