With the recent introduction of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Stuttgart's focus is now on the roadster version that's due in late 2011. Filmed here by the spies at Auto Motor und Sport during hot-weather testing in Death Valley, California, the SLS AMG Roadster appears to be fitted with a traditional canvas top. Also, the fixed handles on the doors suggest that the trademark gullwing doors of the coupe have been replaced by either regular or scissor-type doors like the ones featured on the topless McLaren SLR.Don't expect to see any changes under the elongated bonnet that measures an astonishing 2 meters or 78-inches in length, with the Roadster model keeping the same AMG 6.3-liter V8 found in the coupe that delivers 571 HP at 6,800 rpm and a peak torque of 650Nm (479 lb-ft) at 4,750 rpm.
Power will be sent to the rear axle through a dual-clutch seven-speed sports transmission.
Mercedes-Benz says that the gullwing-door coupe reaches 62mph (100km/h) from standstill in 3.8 seconds and continues to accelerate up to an electronically limited top speed of 317km/h or 197 mph. We suspect that due to the added weight of the structural reinforcements and the roof mechanism, the convertible may be slightly slower than the coupe model.
Via: AMS
