Speaking with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Mercedes Benz-AMG head Ola Kaellenius revealed its most important launch of next year, that of the Roadster version of the SLS AMG which would have its world debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 2011. The SLS AMG Roadster is expected to be on sale after that as a 2012 model.
Also being introduced would be a fuel saving cylinder deactivation system for its 5.5-liter V-8, which would also have a twin turbocharger system to help provide the power that AMG customers want, and expect, from their luxury sports cars. Compared to the previous 6.3-liter powermill, the 5.5-liter version will also have an output of 571 horsepower but torque will be massively improved to 664 foot-pounds over the 6.3-liter’s 479 foot-pounds. This huge increase in torque will definitely show itself through improved driveability and response.
There is a lot of speculation on whether the Roadster will be a folding hard-top or a soft-top variant, as the latest spy shots seem to reveal. This will allow the car to be light and nimble, as befitting a proper sports car.
Initial price should be slightly higher than the approximately $257,000 set for the Gullwing Coupe. Mercedes-Benz also plans to add an all-electric version of the car a few years down the road.
