- Drawings leaked from the patent office confirm the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster.
- The roadster gets conventional front-hinged doors and a soft top.
- SLS AMG Roadster production is slated to begin in early 2011.
STUTTGART, Germany — A convertible version of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing coupe has been rumored for more than a year. Now, official drawings leaked from the European patent office confirm the existence of the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster.
The most noticeable feature of the roadster, as seen in drawings published by TheMotorReport.com.au and other Web sites, is a soft fabric top in place of the signature gullwing design of the coupe. The roadster also gets conventional front-hinged doors in place of the coupe's roof-hinged wings.
Otherwise, much of the bodywork appears to be shared between the two cars, although the two look strikingly different in side profile.
Roadster production is slated to begin in early 2011, with the first European deliveries to commence in late spring. U.S. dealers will likely see the soft top SLS AMG in fall as a 2012 model, about a year after the arrival of the coupe.
Mercedes is also working on an electric version that is slated to go into production around 2015.
Inside Line says: Expect a modest price premium on the roadster. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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linard says:
12:09 AM, 03/27/2010
Colorado1974,
I'm curious, as someone I'm assuming is a car enthusiast, from where and what sources do you gather that the SLS and Viper are even remotely similar? Because you think they share proportions?
colorado1974 says:
06:23 PM, 03/23/2010
evidentally, 99% of the people who've commented on the SLS are children. You might think it's night and day different but...it isn't. It's closer to the Viper than a GMC Sierra is to a Chevy Silverado.
Every styling cue is nearly the same. The only thing missing is the duck tail rear spoiler, oh, yeah, and a bunch of speed.
mungmibear says:
03:27 PM, 03/22/2010
To a child's eye: Long nose + short tail = Viper.
colorado1974 says:
07:26 AM, 03/20/2010
wow, what a great looking viper. wait, no it isn't. the viper is faster, better looking, cheaper and the original. funny how merc didn't even try to mask the fact that they ripped off the viper chassis and hung new sheet metal on it.
tenta20 says:
09:02 PM, 03/11/2010
I want one!
ptcdawg says:
06:34 PM, 03/11/2010
Great looking car..love the roadster...who needs a roof?
jusallah says:
06:01 PM, 03/11/2010
seems like a contradiction, gullwing with no gullwings. i feel like the reality of would make me not want to by this car
mlh says:
02:55 PM, 03/11/2010
Actually, I think the roadster looks better all around -- a simpler design with better proportions, IMO.
racerx1320 says:
01:33 PM, 03/11/2010
Dont really get the convertible, but the coupe is one of the best cars to come in quite some time.
clarkma5 says:
01:13 PM, 03/11/2010
This removes basically all of the appeal of the SLS, to me. I love the coupe.