Car News and Reviews: OPENING SOON: THE NEW SLS AMG ROADSTER

After the ˜gullwing version, the open-top variant is the next car to
be independently urbanized by AMG. The Coupé and Roadster doorsill now shaped in parallel " construct corporation decisive advantages throughout the growth process. During petroleum approx. 3-year era for the SLS AMG Roadster, the engineers loyal exacting notice to the be acquainted with of bodyshell rigidity, heavy dynamics, the soft top and NVH.

Greater Stuttgart area, spring 2011: the new SLS AMG Roadsters are slightly disguised as contain wrap completely examination routes. Easily recognized by persons in the know, route merely see as,at the same occasion as two-seaters by means of a fabric soft top as a number of prototype or other: present are no Mercedes stars or replica designations to be seen, now black glue foil at the front, back and the distance end to end of the sides. The proportions talk for themselves, however: a extended bonnet, big wheels and a small back end tip to so as to petroleum is a sports education car of breathtaking design.

There are motionless six months to go preceding to the earth premiere at the International Automobile Show in Frankfurt/Main in September 2011. Time sufficient to confirm the maturity of the new SLS AMG Roadster. The personnel accountable at AMG contain by now finished the majority of the labor involved, as the Coupé and Roadster now shaped in parallel. The growth and testing of a new AMG high-performance car is feature on the digital prototype (DPT). Extensive investigations assist to attain exact objectives. Whether as,at the same occasion as anxiety the bodyshell design, heaviness distribution, engine position, centre of gravity or axle design, or of route the handling dynamics, aerodynamics, ergonomics, collide behaviour and manufacture procedure " the extremely newest simulation programmes let the extremely sensible symbol of a vehicle and all its characteristics. The digital prototype is so,consequently a complete, near automobile.

In the procedure AMG too name the extensive know-how of generation at Mercedes-Benz: as in the container of the Coupé, networked growth by means of chosen Mercedes-Benz growth departments at the Mercedes Technology Center (MTC) in Sindelfingen was intensified.

The newest simulation software and extensive examination drives on all continents create the 420 kW (571 hp) Roadster fit for its worldwide marketplace open in annual 2011. The center of the specialists in Affalterbach was chiefly on bodyshell rigidity, handling dynamics, the soft top and NVH " (Noise, Vibration and Harshness).

Synthesis: rigidity, presentation and a close-fitting soft top

Naturally all as,at the same occasion as growth be acquainted with are closely linked, as Tobias Moers (44), skull of overall growth and associate of the Executive Board at Mercedes-AMG, explains: "Without bodyshell rigidity present are no handling dynamics, and neither can the shut fit of the soft top be guaranteed." As the Roadster variant was by now in use eager on thought throughout the conceptual stage for the SLS AMG, the lightweight and very rigid aluminium spaceframe was specified at a correspondingly close to the beginning stage. Owing to the omission of a set top and gullwing doors, it was ,essential to plan the surface sills additional robustly. But not primarily to get together the lawful supplies in the occasion of a collide " in principle the Roadster counting too run petroleum by means of the surface sills of the Coupé. Studies and examination drives divide so as to the heavy dynamics might be better still additional by means of petroleum measure, so,consequently surface sills by means of better partition thicknesses and chambers now urbanized for the open-top SLS AMG.Tobias Moers: "The SLS AMG Roadster is a super-sports car " now similar to the Coupé. It weapons with no saying so as to AMG is too strong-minded to attain better heavy dynamics by means of petroleum open-top variant."

In arrange to attain handling dynamics identical to persons of the Coupé, despite the be small of of a set roof, the Roadster has two skin intended to add to the rigidity of the bodyshell: the cross-member carrying the dashboard has extra supporting struts at the windscreen border and at the centre tunnel, and a swagger rising wait recognized by the soft top and the petroleum tank construct the back axle still additional rigid. These skin stop surplus vibrations as of the start, and create the use of additional, weight-increasing vibration dampers genuine as persons frequently employed by competitors unnecessary. As one more significant aspect, it is merely if the bodyshell has the requisite rigidity so as to the soft top can be securely and reliably opened and closed electrohydraulically as,at the same time as on the go,shift at up to 50 km/h (31 mph). The surface talk to of the front and back modules in together SLS AMG heavy are identical. The bodyshell of the Roadster instructions the scales at merely 243 kilograms " construct is similar to the low, 241-kilogram heaviness of the SLS AMG Coupé's bodyshell.

A few exact make to the aluminium spaceframe

Owing to the omission of the coupé top and gullwing doors, the open-top SLS AMG has a reinforcing cross-member at the back the seats construct supports the set rollover protection system. Not forgetting the 250-watt subwoofer of the Bang&Olufsen BeoSound AMG high-end sound system: This is accommodated in the cross-member, as the Coupé-specific site on the parcel shelf is not obtainable owing to the Roadster's soft top. One exacting confront was acoustic insulation of the cross-member, construct fake as a subwoofer accommodation for the two 165-millimetre speakers linked in series. Numerous improvements extremely old ,essential preceding to the necessary listening pleasure was achieved. It was merely by means of the assist of a particular bulkhead inside the aluminium cross-member so as to all audiophile principles might be satisfied.

The three-layered fabric soft top of the SLS AMG Roadster, construct is deposited at the back the seats in a Z-formation to save space, is too an feature pertinent to handling dynamics. This weight-optimised, joint magnesium/steel/ aluminium building ensures a low centre of gravity and is intended for speeds up to the maximum of 317 km/h (197 mph) (electronically limited). Whether unlock or closed, still at top pace present have to be no intrusive noises or resonance. Likewise the push-on goblet draught-stop and the panelling in the interior, on the soft top and the distance end to end of the beltline have to be vibration-free. Nothing have to be allowable to compromise the open-air enjoyment. The foundation for verified, customer-compatible consequences in great circumstances is ,advertising by precisely distinct examination drives on the high-speed tracks in Papenburg, Nardo (Italy) and Idiada (Spain).

The outstanding acoustics " construct AMG engineers contain of course too established by means of complicated measuring skill " too advantage as of one more particular feature, namely the seamless, bonded-in back casement of single-layer security glass. A particular manufacture procedure not merely ensures a smooth transition recognized by the outer skin of the soft top and the glass, as the sum of as,at the same occasion as plan events too the distance end to end of to low wind noise at what time the top is closed " at any speed.

125 existence of knowledge by means of innovations in open-top vehicles

Ensuring so as to the soft top is wind- and water-resistant is a multifaceted undertaking, and AMG and Mercedes-Benz contain second-hand the huge knowledge gained throughout 125 existence of innovation. There contain forever person's name open-top vehicles in the ,the past of Mercedes-Benz " and unlike in the container of a lot of competitors, in an uninterrupted sequence.

Every soft top is different, however, and still dependable by now distinct twist out to be additional ambitious in excess of time. The five challenges to construct the AMG developers of the SLS AMG Roadster gave huge notice and commitment now water, sand, dust, warmth and cold. One particular characteristic of the compact soft top is the continuous irrigate pocket: petroleum is attached underneath the soft top to no-win situation rainwater and straight it downward to the underbody via two apertures on every side.

All the growth be acquainted with of a vehicle construct engage flexible deformation are forever extremely complex. Simulations can from occasion to time guide to fake conclusions, and do not forever give the the majority cost-effective solution. Classic examination events frequently assist to attain fast results. Development project boss Holger Strahl (34): "In petroleum field it is not likely to simulate all by means of CAD, and it mechanically a substance of annoying out, driving, testing and improving. The answer finally accepted have to too be appropriate for series production, of course. Our specialist departments and the overall growth side labor jointly extremely closely in completely ordinary search for the ideal solution." He too adds: "There is no genuine obsession as the second-best option for AMG."

Endurance examination by means of 16 criteria: the "Sindelfingen rain test"

The rain examination at the Mercedes Technology Center (MTC) in Sindelfingen is chiefly demanding, and each new vehicle bearing the Mercedes star is necessary to go by it - consequences it has a set roof, a soft top or a vario-roof. Extreme quantities of irrigate are second-hand to create sure so as to the consequence of the growth labor is watertight " construct is a exacting confront in the container of roadsters or cabriolets. 16 tests have to be productively absolved preceding to approval is granted.

Whether throughout the hose test, at what time all soft top, door and flap seals are sprayed by means of a water-hose, the continuous, overnight rain test, the fording test, the icing, swirl and high-pressure tests, or the final sitting in an routine car clean " the rain examination simulates each conceivable condition of affairs so as to can occur on any continent.

Bench testing and practical trials in all climatic zones

In adding to a variety of examination facilities genuine as the irrigate chamber and the climate/ wind tunnel, the AMG specialists contain option to examination drives in all climatic era of the world, anywhere evils can be recognized and solutions sought. In Laredo, Texas, for example, present is a chiefly fine dust construct drug its way eager on practically any gap " and tests the seals to the absolute limit.

The compact fabric soft top, construct can be conveniently opened and closed in now 11 place at the touch of a button, still at speeds up to 50 km/h (30 mph), have to too submit to a variety of tortures. One of as,at the same occasion as is the standardised soft top later power examination second-hand for all new Mercedes roadsters or Mercedes cabriolets: 20,000 closing cycles on a stationary examination rig have to there no difficulty for the hydraulic cylinders, electric motors and joints. There are too 2500 closing cycles as,at the same time as on the move, consequences in huge heat, icy cold, far above the ground humidity or dry desert winds. In petroleum region too, nothing is absent to possibility " and for outstanding reasons: the aim of petroleum huge attempt is to provide the client limitless heavy pleasure in completely SLS AMG Roadster.

Endurance test as a final excellence check

All the optimisation stages contain person's name absolved, and the manufacture tests at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen contain person's name successful, but the developers contain motionless not reached completely goal. The excellence of the overall vehicle is now the center of the accompanying later power trials. These simulate an ,whole vehicle existence beneath the toughest circumstances in accelerated examination cycles. The aim is to confirm the height of maturity preceding to manufacture of client vehicles commences.

The later power testing at a glance:

Long-term testing on a diversity of dissimilar roads:

All the components and understanding are tested jointly in daily operation. Loaded up to completely allowable gross vehicle weight, the examination cars are put from side to side a precisely distinct examination programme on state roads, on motorways and in metropolis traffic.

Endurance testing on heathland:

In petroleum case, the developers center on the durability of the chassis and suspension components, the ,whole bodyshell and the integral subframe on construct the front axle, steering and engine are mounted. The examination cars are loaded up to completely allowable gross vehicle weight.

"Accelerated" later power testing:

Testing of the ,whole vehicle, focussing on the powertrain, chassis and suspension. Special skin of the AMG programme comprise 10,000 kilometres on the Nürburgring's North Loop and 10,000 kilometres in metropolis traffic.

Full-load later power testing:

Extreme armed up and braking manoeuvres by means of a far above the ground proportion of full-load operation, creation great demands on the cooling, fuel-delivery and braking systems.

Long-term corrosion testing:

Corrosion testing of the ,whole vehicle simulates the toughest lively and climatic environmental influences.

Final plank approval:

All-inclusive verification of the amount of growth and manufacture maturity.

World premiere on 13 September 2011, at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main