Preview: Mercedes working on Roadster variant of SLS AMG?

Mercedes Benz's upcoming SLS AMG Gullwing is proving to be one of the more exciting offerings of the next couple of years, and as the spiritual successor to the renowned Gullwing 300SL of the 1950s it makes sense for the car to be offered in a roofless variant as well.

While there’s no official word yet from the carmaker, it’s expected that a SLS AMG Roadster should surface sometime around late 2011. This would put it on a timeline to debut around a year after its tin-top Gullwing brother enters the market in 2010, a period that matches the amount of time it took for the SLS AMG Gullwing's predecessor, the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, to get its own roadster variant.

While speculation is rife as to whether the new model will be a folding hard-top, à la the current SL convertible, or a soft-top variant like the SLR Roadster, our bet lies in the latter option. This will allow the car to be as light as possible, keeping it nimble around corners and quick on the straights.

Under the hood, the engine lineup will remain consistent between the Roadster and the Gullwing. Power will come from a revised version of AMG’s now-familiar 6.2L V8 mated to an all-new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted on the rear axle. Peak output will stand at 571hp (420kW) and 479lb-ft (650Nm) of torque.

While the Gullwing model is expected to weigh in at around 1620kg, it’s likely the Roadster variant will be nudging the 1,700kg mark or possibly even more. This should put a slight damper on performance compared to the Gullwing, but then again those buyers opting for the Roadster variant don't necessarily put this at the top of their list of priorities.

Expect prices to fall within the vicinity of the Ferrari F430 Spider and the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.