Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG goes topless

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG certainly made waves when it was launched in 2009. But by the end of this year, the German luxury car maker is slated to make a new version of the SLS which ditches the trademark gullwing doors and opts for a million miles of head room instead. Dubbed the SLS AMG Roadster, it will be provide an  ultimate al fresco motoring experience, as it will pack the same 6.2-litre V8 engine as its coupe cousin, which produces a massive 579PS and an even more unbelievable 650Nm of torque.

The three-layer fabric soft-top is constructed of lightweight materials to keep the car's centre of gravity low. Moreover, though the chassis had to be reinforced to make up for the drop in structural rigidity when the roof was lopped off, the overall weight of the SLS AMG Roadster has gone up by just 40kg over the coupe. Brilliant packaging ensures that even with the roof folding away in the back, the Roadster has just three litres of boot space less than the coupe. Packed with all the goodies that we've now come to expect from Merc's halo car, the SLS AMG Roadster will go on sale in the autumn of 2011, and should cost a little more than the coupe.

VIDEO

: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Trailer