MERCEDES-BENZ turned to its AMG performance arm to come up with its new flagship sportscar, the 420kW lightweight SLS supercar.

Now, 18 months after the arrival of the coupe version with its trademark gulling doors, the SLS AMG Roadster has arrived, in style.

Eschewing the folding metal hardtops of other sportscars today, the AMG engineers stuck with a purist fabric folding top in line with their goals of minimum weight and maximum performance.

Loaded with the same 420kW 6.2-litre V8 engine and rear-mounted seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as the gullwing coupe, the Roadster weighs just 40kg more than its hard-roofed sibling, and can punch to 100km/h in the same blistering 3.8 seconds.

It all adds up to one of the greatest driving experiences $500k can buy…