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Mercedes' V8 supercar loses its roof - and its gullwing doors

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These are the latest spy pics of Mercedes-Benz’s drop-top SLS roadster, spied virtually undisguised during cold weather tests in Scandinavia.

The SLS Roadster is tipped to appear in late summer 2011, allowing a public debut at the Frankfurt motor show. It features an electrically operated fabric hood, similar in materials and construction to the roof on the E-class convertible.

See the spy shots of Mercedes' SLS Roadster

The biggest difference between the SLS and its open-top sister will be the removal of the original car’s gullwing doors. Because under the bonnet will be the same 563bhp 6.2-litre V8 powerplant as the regular car.

The convertible’s performance should be slightly short of the hard-top’s, thanks to a few extra kilos in the roof mechanism and body strengthening. Expect a 0-62mph time of around four seconds.

The price should be slightly higher, too, with an expected 10 per cent mark-up over the regular coupé. That should put it just over £170,000.

Read Autocar's full road test of the new Mercedes SLS AMG

See all the latest Mercedes SLS reviews, news and video