Luxury in a sporting outfit
Sportiness, elegance, modern styling but respectful of tradition… these are the characteristics the new version embodies. The SL retains its traditional proportions… long bonnet, passenger cabin far to the rear and a chunky back end. This impression is reflected in the car’s dimensions… the SL has grown in length by 50 millimetres and in width by 57. The front aspect is dominated by the Mercedes star on the upright radiator grille. The headlight clusters… as standard fitted with the Intelligent Light System (ILS)... are positioned at a slant and give the auto its unique look. The lighting system comprises five different functions. It reacts automatically to driving and weather conditions. This is meant to ensure that the driver will always benefit from an optimal illumination of the road ahead. Marker lights and running lights employ LED technology. The car’s smooth flanks with few contours make the SL a discreetly luxurious automobile although the wide rear end with integrated diffuser announces also the car’s sporting ambitions.
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- In combination with the new generation of engines the new SL is to be 28 percent more fuel efficient than preceding models.
Three roof options
Inside the SL there is a harmony of luxury materials… leather, wood veneer and aluminium. Thanks to the increased exterior dimensions there is now more room inside, too. One of the highlights of the new model is the ‘Variodach’ roof option. As with the preceding version the top can be retracted into the boot using an electro-hydraulic system. But now this roof comes in three configurations. It is still possible to order an aluminium roof finished in the body colour. But buyers now also have the choice of a glass roof or a panorama vario-roof. In the latter case the transparency of the top can be adjusted at the touch of a button. The frame of the roof section is now crafted in magnesium, giving a further six kilograms saving in weight. A further consequence is the lower centre of gravity in the new SL, contributing together with the overall reduction in weight to an improvement in the driving dynamics. Through the employment of aluminium for almost the entire carosserie the raw body weighs in at only 110 kilograms. This is the first time that Mercedes have opted for an all-aluminium vacuum die-cast unit… only the ‘A’ pillars are for safety reasons reinforced with steel tubing.
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- Sportiness, elegance, modern styling but respectful of tradition… these are the characteristics the new version embodies.
Two motorization options
For a start the buyer will have the choice of two engines. A new V8 with 4.7 litres capacity… about 0.8 litres less than the preceding model… will deliver 435 horsepower (320 kW). This amounts to an increase in output of 50 horsepower (37 kW) in spite of the reduced engine capacity. At the same time the torque rises from 530 Nm to an impressive 700 while averaged fuel consumption has dropped by 22 percent. The modified V6 motor gives slightly less power, 306 horsepower (225 kW), although there is at 370 Nm slightly more torque generated. As standard the power is handled by an optimized seven-stage automatic transmission including start/stop automation. The SL pushed by the V6 reaches a hundred in 5.9 seconds with the V8 cutting the sprint time down to 4.6 seconds.
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- Inside the SL there is a harmony of luxury materials… leather, wood veneer and aluminium… making for a elegant sporting feel.
Good equipment level and many optional extras
Standard equipment features for the SL include a semi-active suspension… although the buyer can also order the active ‘ABC’ running gear. There is a new electro-mechanical steering system whereby the steering angle and the speed-dependent settings serve to stabilize straight-line running. The fatigue monitoring system (Attention Assist) and adaptive braking also come as standard for the new SL. There is also a long list of options on offer… starting with the ‘Distronic Plus’ distance-holding cruise control, the ‘Pre-Safe’ braking assistant and the active park assist functionality. This latter recognizes suitable parking slots and can move the car completely automatically to make best use of the space available. This list is comprehensive and also features the ‘Command Online’ kit which includes internet access and DVD juke-box.
In the showrooms from March 2012
In spite of the technological refinements and the new equipment on board the price for the new SL has risen by less than four percent but remains far from cheap. The SL 350 will have a starting price of 93,534 Euros with the SL 500 to be had from 117,096 Euros. And right from the start Mercedes will tempt wealthy buyers with an ‘Edition 1’ version. This will cost between 19,028 and 22,598 more. Those interested in the luxury roadster can already pre-order and the first deliveries are scheduled for the end of March 2012.
