Mercedes has caused history to repeat itself as they have come out with a roadster version for one of their popular coupes. This trend was seen in the SLR McLaren and will now repeat itself with the SLS AMG coupe version. The SLS AMG Roadster will be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but right now the car is under extreme testings.
In terms of design, the roadster version will remain faithful to the coupe version. However, it will drop the gullwing doors in favor of more traditional units. The SLS Roadster will be offered with Mercedes’ traditional retractable soft-top which can be opened and closed electrohydraulically while on the move up to 30 mph.
The Mercedes SLS AMG roadster version will be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine with 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. However, being a much heavier model, it will rocket from 0 to 60mph in 4.0 seconds before topping out at approximately 192 mph.
In Europe, prices will start from € 195,160, or about $278,000 at the current exchange rates. The Mercedes’ US debut will be made later this fall.
UPDATE 11/07/2011: Mercedes has unveiled a new video presenting the history behind the SLS AMG Roadster photo shoot with Michael and Ralf Schumacher.
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster.
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We reckon Galpin Auto Sports needed a break from all those customized Ford vehicles they’re bringing to the 2011 SEMA Auto Show so they turned their attention towards a few sports cars from across the pond. One of these vehicles is a 2012 Lotus Evora, which GAS took the challenge of reinventing from a road-going sports car into a fully-dressed track-spec race car.
The result is the Evora R2R, a car that features plenty of aerodynamic upgrades, including a new front splitter, a new rear wing, new side skirts made from aluminum, black racing decals, racing seats dressed in fine Alcantara, and a new set of 19" (front) and 20" (rear) flat-back racing wheels.
To uphold its new race car identity, Galpin Auto Sports also added a new Flowmaster exhaust system, clearing way for the sports car’s 3.5-liter V6 engine to receive an increased output of 300 horsepower, up from the 280-horsepower output of the standard road-going roadster.
All told, Galpin Auto Sports accomplished what it always seems to do best. Impressive modifications all around are nothing new to these guys and they proved that yet again with the Lotus Evora R2R.
Here’s a vehicle that may be sporting an orange and black combination, but has nothing to do with the spooky and wicked Halloween season. This is the Mazda MX-5 Super20, a vehicle whose name may sound a bit familiar due to Mazda’s entry into SEMA last year. The 2010 Super20 was created to celebrate the MX-5’s 20th anniversary, but this year, Mazda decided to bring a 2.0 version of that same vehicle with a killer paint job and a load of accessories.
The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Super20 features a Hyper Orange Mica exterior paint finish with black stripes to soften the bright blow. The paint job is topped off with a stationary, glossy black hardtop to replace the vehicle’s standard soft-top. The interior has also been modified and now features a color-matched roll bar and black leather seats with suede seat inserts and channel and orange contrast stitching.
The Super20 was also privy to a few performance modifications, such as a DPTune reflashed ECU, a Racing Beat 304-stainless steel header and exhaust, and Racing Beat hollow front and rear anti-roll bars. These features were joined by an ACT organic street clutch, MazdaSpeed coil overs and a shock tower brace, Power Slot slotted brake rotors, StopTech stainless steel brake lines and street performance brake pads, and SpeedSource front brake ducts. The MX-5 Super20 was finished with black 16-inch Enkei RPF1 twin-spoke racing wheels, Toyo Proxes RA-1 245/45ZR16 high-performance tires, and 20mm H&R Track+ bolt-on wheel spacers in the rear and 15mm Sparco wheel spacers in the front.
From the looks of things, we think Mazda threw together the Super20 last year and decided to really work hard this year to present a Super20 worthy of being called a celebratory vehicle.
UPDATE 11/07/2011: We have added new images of the MX-5 Super20 from the SEMA Auto Show. Check them out in the gallery provided!
BMW has chosen the British market to launch two new models for the Z4 line-up. The new Z4 sDrive20i and Z4 sDrive28i continue a tradition of over 80 years started by the 3/15 PA Wartburg Roadster back in 1930. It was a memorable car thanks to its setback glasshouse and front engine rear-wheel-drive configuration with the two seats positioned close to the rear axle.
The Z4 sDrive20i is powered by a four-cylinder engine with an output of 184 HP and 199 lb-ft of torque. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and can hit a top speed of 146 mph. For the sDrive28i, the total output has been increased to 245 HP. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
The Z4 sDrive20i will be offered in Space Grey metallic paintwork and will be equipped with 17" light alloy Star-spoke style 290 wheels and is priced at £29,480.00 ($40,172 at the current rates). The sDrive28i gets a Black Sapphire metallic paintwork with 18" Star-spoke style 325M light alloy wheels and is priced at £33,645.00 ($45,848 at the current rates).
Everyone knows that Lotus has very big plans for the future. With a new Esprit and new generations for every existing model in the line-up the company seems to be pretty busy. But during a recent interview with AutoEvolution, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has offered an even more exciting news: the legendary Seven prepares for a come-back.
During the interview, Bahar said: "I’ve seen some drawings [of the Seven revival] and they look very nice, we have to see. It’s always possible, it’s just a matter of timing." And that statement comes as a confirmation to lots of rumors about a possible Seven revival.
Apparently, a new Seven "would fit perfectly in the automaker’s new range, being the final element that would really allow it to offer something for every kind of speed enthusiasts."
The original Seven has been built by Lotus from 1957 to 1972 as a small, simple, lightweight two-seater open-top sports car. After Lotus ended production of the Seven, Caterham bought the rights to it.
