Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Roadster Caught Nearly Naked

[ahmed_7erzon]

A roadster version of the Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS supercar has been rumored and expected effectively since the introduction of the gullwing hardtop, and various mules have been seen over the past year that have hinted at this possibility. But these latest shots show how close this model may be to the showroom. Other than some dark cladding around the grille, this gives the best look yet at what the finished product will actually look like.

Like its spiritual forebear, the famed SL roadster from the 1950s, the new model will naturally forego its sibling's gullwing doors for conventional front-hinged swingers. And unlike the company's other two-seaters, the SLS roadster appears that it will utilize a cloth roof, as opposed to the folding hardtops of the SL and SLK, in keeping with the purity of the roadster formula.

In terms of engines, the roadster may come equipped with the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, which slowly but surely seems to be replacing the mellifluous, but thirsty, naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 in the AMG line. However, the C63 is sticking with the naturally-aspirated motor, and the SLS could be one of the last holdouts as well. However, if it does get the new twin-turbo mill, expect it to be the most powerful version offered. The top-spec version currently produces 536 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque (563 hp and 664 pound-feet with the optional Performance Package) in the S63 AMG sedan. Considering the current naturally-aspirated SLS cranks out 563 horsepower, expect the SLS version of the 5.5 twin-turbo to approach or surpass 600 horsepower.