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"Mercedes-Benz is upping the suspense as it reveals more and more details about the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster. Set to go on sale later this year, the SLS Roadster is a mechanical twin of the SLS Coupe\u2014minus the hardtop&amp;#039;s dramatic gullwing doors. A 6.2-liter V-8 delivers 563 bhp and 479 lb. ft. of torque at 4750 rpm. Fitted with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the SLS Roadster won&amp;#039;t stop accelerating until it reaches its (electronically limited) top speed of 197 mph. The sprint to 60 mph takes only 3.7 seconds.   Sounds pretty good so far! But Mercedes-Benz has sweetened the deal by offering more specifics about the final spec of its top-of-the-line convertible.           AMG Performance Media   For anyone interested in keeping tabs on lap times and lateral g measurements, Mercedes has outfitted the SLS Roadster with the AMG Performance Media system. Key functions include real-time display of engine output and accelerator position, along with displays of lateral and linear acceleration, and brake performance. There is even a setting to record lap times on a closed circuit, complete with individual sector times.   Keeping weight down was a top priority for Mercedes&amp;#039; engineering team. Mercedes now confirms that the SLS Roadster weighs only 88 lb. more than the SLS AMG Coupe. The frame of the three-layer top is constructed of magnesium, steel and aluminum, to lower overall weight and the center of gravity.           Raising or lowering the top takes only 11 seconds, and both can be done at speeds up to 31 mph. Better still, trunk space doesn&amp;#039;t suffer in the SLS&amp;#039; conversion to convertible format. With the roof open or closed, there is 6.1 cu ft. of luggage room\u2014compared to 6.2 cu ft. offered in the SLS Coupe.   Plenty of Choices   Hauling the SLS Roadster down from speed are high-performance AMG brakes. Ceramic two-piece brake discs are optional, and provide a 40 percent reduction in weight. The rack-and-pinion steering is speed-sensitive, with a constant mechanical ratio of 13.6:1. Mercedes says it positioned the steering unit on a subframe in front of the engine, to allow the motor to be positioned as low as possible.           The SLS AMG Roadster also comes with a 3-stage ESP system, with &amp;quot;ESP ON,&amp;quot; &amp;quot;ESP SPORT&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;ESP OFF&amp;quot; modes. A driver can also select among three suspension settings: &amp;quot;Comfort,&amp;quot; &amp;quot;Sport&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;Sport Plus.&amp;quot; And believe us, the choices don&amp;#039;t end there. The 7-speed transmission boasts four different settings: &amp;quot;C&amp;quot; (Controlled Efficiency), &amp;quot;S&amp;quot; (Sport), &amp;quot;S+&amp;quot; (Sport Plus) or &amp;quot;M&amp;quot; (Manual). The various transmission modes can be selected via a rotary control knob.   In the Sport, Sport Plus and Manual modes, the automatic rev-matching function is active. A &amp;quot;RACE START&amp;quot; function ensures optimum traction for power launches from a stop. According to Mercedes, the transmission can shift gears in as little as 100 milliseconds.          "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/news/a17348/official-news-and-photos-2012-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-roadster/>