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Adrian PatonThe 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Officially Unveiled
October 3rd 2011 18:00
Barely a month after giving us a sneak peek of the SLS roadster, Mercedes-Benz has finally unveiled all there is to know about the drop-top version of their flagship model.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster loses the "gullwing-doors" of its stable-mate but gains a three-layered fabric soft top with a weight-optimised magnesium/steel/aluminum construction that can be opened (and closed) in just 11 seconds at up to speeds of 50 km/h.
Powered by the same 420 kW, 6.2-litre V8 engine found in the coupe counterpart, the Roadster still boasts the same level of driving dynamics without a fixed roof thanks to several features specifically designed to strengthen the bodyshell, including side skirts with greater wall thicknesses and additional chambers.
The dashboard cross member, for instance, is supported against the windshield frame and centre tunnel by additional struts, and a curved strut between the soft top and the tank reinforces the rear axle. A reinforcing crossmember behind the seats lends support to the fixed roll-over protection system while also accommodating the 250 watt subwoofer of the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end sound system.
It is, therefore, quite remarkable that the Roadster is only 88 pounds heavier than the coupe!
Step inside the SLS AMG Roadster and you will a standard appointment of black designo leather, heated AMG sports seats, a detachable glass windstop, COMAND with Navigation and DVD player, anti-theft alarm system with tow-away protection and interior monitoring, dual-zone automatic climate control and the KEYLESSGO starting function. The standard AIRSCARF® system exclusive to Mercedes- Benz acts like an invisible scarf warming the head and neck areas of the occupants. It is integrated into the backrests of the AMG sports seats, and blows warm air from vents in the head restraints. The airflow can be adapted for different occupant sizes by means of adjustable louvers, and the level of warmth can be selected in three stages at the touch of a button.
Leather-lined roll-over bars with integrated mesh in a "Silver Shadow" look are available in conjunction with designo Exclusive leather to reduce turbulence in the cockpit. Ambient lighting is integrated into the electrically folding exterior mirrors. Single-tone or two-tone designo leather in espresso brown is available as a new interior color – this dark shade of brown perfectly matches the new metallic paint finish AMG Sepang brown.
In addition to the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound AMG surround sound system, another optional entertainment highlight is the AMG Performance Media. In an unprecedented way, this racing-inspired system combines numerous telemetric displays such as engine data, lateral and linear acceleration and lap times on a racetrack. AMG Performance Media is activated by pressing the AMG key in the AMG DRIVE UNIT, and operated using the COMAND Controller.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster will make its official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and will go on sale later this year.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
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