Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz UNVEILS SLR ROADSTER CONCEPT AT FRANKFURT SHOW

Bold Design Inspired By Champion Formula I Car and Legendary 1950s SL

AutoWorld.com - FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Mercedes-Benz today unveiled a striking concept for a new roadster based on its SLR high-performance sports car at a press conference preceding the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Called the Vision SLR Roadster, the car not only offers a stunning design for an open two-seater, but also provides a glimpse of performance and safety technology that Mercedes-Benz will offer in future vehicles.
   In January of this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mercedes-Benz debuted a concept for the SLR in coupe form. Based on the enthusiastic response to this striking new car, the Daimler Chrysler AG Board of Management gave the green light for a production version of the new sports car to premiere around 2003.

Like the coupe, the open-top two-seater concept blends futuristic styling from the  current Mercedes Formula I World Champion "Silver Arrow" racecar with classic design elements from the famous Mercedes SL sports car and SLR racer of the 1950s. The evocative design of its arrow-shaped front end is based on the Formula I race car that Mika Hakkinen drove to victory in the 1998 World Championship. These race car design cues also appear in the cockpit and along the body.

The long chiseled hood, sweeping fender lines and unique doors harken back to the 1950s 300SL sports car and its SLR racing version that the  legendary drivers such as Juan Manuel Fangio, Rudolf Caracciola and Stirling Moss piloted to numerous victories.

The dramatic look of the SLR design study incorporates a double spoiler across the front of the car and a new interpretation of the familiar Mercedes-Benz "face" featuring four oval headlights. The body is formed with lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum, providing outstanding crash protection with 40 percent lower weight than conventional steel designs.

The World's First Transparent Soft Top
  An industry first, the convertible top on the SLR roadster is made of a special transparent polyester material which lets in light and retains much of the pleasure of open-top driving, even when the top is up. The top is then vapor-plated with aluminum to give it a metallic look. The ingenious design of the roof also allows the rear half to be opened so that passengers have the best of both worlds - protection from the elements in an open-air environment.

Compared to the SLR coupe version, the trunk lid of the roadster is higher, and a "diff-user" - adopted from Formula I technology - directs the flow of air along the rear of the vehicle and onto the double wings to increase downforce on the rear wheels.

Supercharged V8 Power

The technology that stops the Vision SLR roadster is no less exciting than the technology that makes it go. A new electro-hydraulic brake system calculates brake pressure for each wheel, relying on input from a variety of sensors, including information on traction and stability. The result is quicker response from the brake pedal, optimum braking stability when comering in wet conditions and compensation for fade on any individual brake.

The brake discs themselves represent a leap in technology. Instead of conventional cast iron, the discs are made from fiber-reinforced ceramics. Not only are these brake discs 67 percent lighter than conventional discs, but they can handle twice the temperature load ... up to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit.

Turbine-Spoke Alloy Wheels - 20-Inch Diameter at the Rear

The new light-alloy wheels feature a turbine spoke design that ensures optimal brake cooling, with 245/35 ZR 19 tires (by Formula I partner Bridgestone) at the front and 285/30 ZR 20 at the rear.

Sports Car Interior of The Future

Getting into the Vision SLR roadster recalls the legendary open-top 300SLR racer of the 1950s. In the Vision SLR, the doors are hinged at the A-pillar (rather than the roof, as they were on the classic 300SL Gullwing), allowing the same doors to be used on both the coupe and roadster. The Vision SLR doors swing forward at a 75-degree angle to allow case of entry.

Inside, the SLR features an all-new concept for a sports car cockpit, dominated by a wide, gently curving console. Instead of a conventional instrument panel, the SLR roadster has a "spoiler" housing two classic-looking instruments. Likewise, the oval steering wheel breaks from convention and offers the driver an unfettered view of the instruments. Function and comfort are ensured by lightweight carbon-fiber bucket seats.

The center console houses the Cockpit Data and Management system (COMAND), which is standard equipment on the all-new Mercedes S-Class sedan and CL coupe. From COMAND, the driver can access the on-board satellite navigation system, as well as controls for the audio and phone systems.