The Reset Button: New reports say Mercedes SLA roadster on-track for 2012
Click above to see the Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA concept in high-resolution
Small countries with fledgling economies are prone, upon occasion, to scrap their currency and start over again. Inflation rises, their currency is devalued, so they simply press the "reset" button. And looking at the history of the Mercedes-Benz roadster, we wonder if they haven't been doing the same thing. First came the original SL – "sporty" and "light weight" – which by now has swelled to massive proportions and SUV-rivaling weight. So Mercedes introduced the SLK, a smaller version with the added K for "kurtz" or "short". But as the SLK has by now grown at least as big as the original SL, officials have been mulling over the idea of making an even smaller roadster.
Actually, they've been mulling it over for nearly a decade. Mercedes unveiled their Vision SLA concept way back in 2000, and they've been toying with the idea ever since. But new post-Detroit Auto Show reports suggest that the long-rumored SLA-like droptop is alive and well, and may finally come to market as a response to growing demand for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Although the current A and B-Class platform utilizes novel sandwich underbody construction that would preclude use in a short roadster, the next generation of Mercedes front-drive compacts is expected to forgo the unusual configuration in favor of a more conventional front-engine/front-wheel-drive set-up. Even a small-displacement AMG version could be in the cards. Sources continue to suggest we could see a production SLA slot under the SLK by 2012, just in time to face off with BMW's rumored 1 Series-based roadster.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLA Concept
[Source: Drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Torrent 6:05PM (1/19/2009)
ok but don't let it look like that.
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player1 6:16PM (1/19/2009)
Yeah, that looks like a miata with a body kit. Probably someone from http://www.anonboard.com thats their dream car. Not anyone normal though.
Torrent 6:52PM (1/19/2009)
lol that website is retarded.
Almo 6:13PM (1/19/2009)
That looks a lot like something SMART would produce, not MB. Now the rumoured SLC... That's what gets people talking!
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Almo 6:14PM (1/19/2009)
http://autoworld.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/mercedes-slc-gullwing.jpg
Lambo-killer? You decide!
(Fake concept of course but gorgeous nonetheless!)
Nick 7:06PM (1/19/2009)
Almo:
That's what the Mc-Laren Mercedes should have looked like!!!
Bryant 6:18PM (1/19/2009)
front-engine/front-wheel-drive?
The AMG version better be rear-wheel-drive. Otherwise, it would be a joke.
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Peter 6:44PM (1/19/2009)
please never show those pictures again. i think my eyes started to bleed a little bit after seeing this thing
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Visnick 6:45PM (1/19/2009)
It should be the eject button rather than the reset button
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MikeofLA 9:11PM (1/19/2009)
Do not build this car if it is FWD. If you can get a light weight, fun to drive miata and an S2000 with RWD, why can't Mercedes do it?
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Justin 11:52PM (1/19/2009)
Because Mercedes is polluted with Chrysler.
Not that it's my preference, but reality is, BMW is going to over take Mercedes' crown sooner or later.
caddy-v 10:18PM (1/19/2009)
If this is the best they can do with all the money thay pilaged from Chrysler, give them their money back.
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Poppe 10:54PM (1/19/2009)
WTF?
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Justin 2:25AM (1/20/2009)
WTF is right...
This looks like it was designed by some Korean gratuate working for Daewoo's conceptual drawing department.
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OKC08SKYRL 7:42AM (1/20/2009)
This will be the perfect car to replace my 2008 Sky Redline.
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AntBee 7:49AM (1/20/2009)
Where's its face?
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arcsine 4:07PM (1/20/2009)
I'll be sure to let my hairdresser know.
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Koru Kinshi 11:57AM (2/07/2009)
I happen to like this design. It's very edgy and a new twist of a design. Also, I take personal offense that *ANYONE* would remotely think BMW had the remote chance of overtaking Mercedes. When they stop building garbage, and try to turn out a quality car that doesn't break down from it's electronics, *then* I'll think about giving them any respect whatsoever.
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