Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster unveiled

Mercedes has pulled the wraps off its SLS AMG Roadster supercar, which will go on sale in November.

The car is powered by the same engine found in the SLS Coupe - a 563bhp, 6.3-litre hand-assembled AMG unit. This gives the Roadster a limited top speed of 197mph and a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds, matching the performance stats of the hard top.

The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox that can shift up or down in as little as 100 milliseconds. It has four driving modes: C (Controlled Efficiency), S (Sport), S+ (Sport plus) or "M" (Manual).

Buyers can also change the modes of the suspension set-up with the optional AMG Ride Control sports suspension it has Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus modes.

The Roadster misses out on the gullwing doors from the Coupe in order to accommodate the folding fabric roof. This can go up or down in 11 seconds at speeds up to 30mph.

The boot capacity is 173 litres with the roof either open or closed, and therefore roughly equal to that of Coupe (176 litres).

Mercedes' Airscarf system, which warms the head and neck areas of the occupants, is available as an option, as is the AMG Performance Media system. This motorsport-inspired option offers telemetric displays, giving the driver information such as lateral and linear acceleration, various engine data and lap times on a racetrack. It also has high-speed internet access.

Dealers are taking orders for the car now, while the car will be launched at the Frankfurt motor show in September. UK deliveries are due in November, with prices expected to start at around 180,000 12,000 more than the Coupe.