The new generation SL caps a glorious history of
Mercedes sports cars, which began in 1954 with the introduction of the
legendary 300 SL "Gullwing", followed in 1957 by the
launch of the first SL Roadster. To date, the Stuttgart manufacturer
has produced a total of over 630,000 SL sports cars.
Like its predecessors, the new-generation SL
also merits its "incomparable" tag. No other sports car in this market
segment offers such a perfect balance of sportiness, safety and
comfort. These three qualities are the cornerstones of highly eventful,
active motoring that provides a profound sense of well-being - for
hallmark Mercedes refinement at the highest, sportiest level.
Design: new design idiom with unmistakable sporty overtones
When it came to developing a concept and design
for the new generation SL, the Mercedes-Benz engineers set out to
accentuate the roadster's sporty attributes even more strongly than
before. This aspiration is reflected in the new front-end design featuring as its centrepiece a wide and therefore very dominant radiator grille whose V‑shape symbolises sporty virtues such as forwards thrust and performance potential.
A horizontal louvre makes the radiator grille appear
wider and, in doing so, emphasises the powerful aspect of the SL's
front end, making it seem surprisingly new, yet so very familiar. By
using expressive stylistics in this way, the Mercedes designers are
able to forge a link with the SL's history and create a front-end
design that is reminiscent of the earlier SL Roadster models, which
also expressed their effortless superiority through wide, very
distinctive radiator grilles. Hence the front-end design of the
new-generation SL shows Mercedes-Benz taking the styling of the
legendary sports car to the next level.
The designers also pay tribute to the forefather of the SL model series: the two powerdomes on the bonnet and the gill-style air outlets
in the front wings are unmistakable hallmarks of the 300 SL from 1954
and have been given a contemporary interpretation for the new Mercedes
sports car.
These classic design features drawn from five
decades of roadster tradition are in tasteful harmony with new elements
of the contemporary Mercedes design idiom, including the distinctive
V-shaped front section and, above all, the headlamps, which are drawn
deeply into the flanks, thus further emphasising the impression of
breadth at the front end. As well as giving the SL a highly
contemporary look, this striking headlamp design also sees the roadster
continuing its traditional role as a trendsetter. Just like its
predecessors, the new‑generation SL features a front-end design that
will serve as a template for future Mercedes passenger cars.
At the rear, too, the new-generation SL
demonstrates its sporty nature even more clearly than before. This is
achieved primarily by the new diffuser-look bumper
which adds a motorsport touch. In conjunction with the equally new
trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes this design element emphasises the width
of the body, further symbolising the power just waiting to be unleashed
by the roadster.
Direct-steer system: consummate sporty driving pleasure
The SL name is synonymous with driving pleasure
as well as design. This Mercedes sports car has always offered a
scintillating driving experience that does not deal in compromises -
neither in terms of handling dynamics nor by any means when it comes to
comfort or safety. It was under this premise that the Mercedes
engineers modified and perfected the SL technology, one example being
the new, optionally available direct-steer system, which is as simple
as it is ingenious and provides a whole new driving experience when
cornering.
This new development is based on the familiar standard-fit speed-sensitive power steering system
- the benefit of which is noticeable especially when driving slowly,
manoeuvring or parking thanks to the lower steering forces required.
New features include a variable rack ratio, which adjusts in line with
the steering angle, increasing sharply as soon as this reaches five
degrees. All of which means that, compared to a steering system with a
constant ratio, the driver does not have to move the steering wheel as
much when cornering. The car's response is therefore noticeably more
direct, allowing the driver to steer more spontaneously or, in other
words, more sportily.
When driving slowly or parking, the new technology combines with the speed-sensitive power steering to provide even more comfort than before because the large ratio further reduces the steering effort required.
In addition, the SL still offers some of the very finest chassis technology available in the shape of four-link front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension. Meanwhile the Active Body Control
(ABC) system, specified as standard for the SL 500 and the SL 600, is a
unique masterpiece. It compensates body pitch, roll and yaw and adapts
the suspension settings automatically to suit the current driving
situation. This makes for excellent agility on the one hand and optimum
driving stability on the other, without compromising the car's superb
levels of comfort. Mercedes‑Benz has further fine-tuned the ABC
shock-absorber settings for the new-generation SL in order to bring a
whole new quality to this unique blend of sportiness, comfort and
safety.
Size 255/45 R 17 wide-base tyres and 17-inch light-alloy wheels
are fitted as standard on the new SL 280 and SL 350 models, whereas the
V8-powered SL 500 Roadster runs on 18-inch wheels shod with 255/40 R 18
tyres. And the exclusive character of the twelve-cylinder SL 600 model
is accentuated by 18-inch ten-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels with 255/40
R 18 tyres at the front and 285/35 R 18 tyres at the rear.
Engines: new, extremely sporty six-cylinder powerplant
Mercedes-Benz is extending the SL-Class line-up by introducing an attractive entry-level model in the shape of the SL 280
developing 170 kW/231 hp. The six‑cylinder powerplant delivers its peak
torque of 300 Nm from 2500 rpm and accelerates the roadster from 0 to
100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, whilst NEDC fuel consumption is just 9.4
litres per 100 kilometres.
For the SL 350, the Mercedes
engineers have developed a V6 powerplant that brings the sporty
qualities of new-generation SL right to the fore. The term "sports
engine" could not be more apt: through a process of meticulous
engineering, the Stuttgart specialists have further enlivened the
temperament of the six-cylinder unit, enhancing its dynamic response
dramatically. The engine responds instantaneously to movements of the
accelerator pedal and can rev up to 7200 rpm in order to make full use
of its power reserves in certain driving situations. Compared to the
previous 3.5-litre engine, the output has been boosted by 16 percent to
232 kW/316 hp (at 6500 rpm), while the peak torque has been increased
by 10 Nm and now stands at 360 Nm. This powerpack accelerates the new
SL 350 from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 6.2 seconds, making it 0.4 seconds
faster than the outgoing SL 350.
In this case, however, the extra power does not come at the expense of fuel economy:
with NEDC consumption of 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres, the new SL 350
undercuts the previous model with its 200 kW/272 hp by 0.4 litres per
100 kilometres.
The decidedly sporty character of the V6 power
unit is also clearly audible. Its powerfully sonorous vocals are the
result of meticulous work carried out by sound designers. So these
specialists also contribute to the sporty driving pleasure. In this
respect, the standard-fit seven-speed automatic transmission
also has an important role to play: on the one hand by allowing fast
multiple downshifts when accelerating, on the other hand by providing a
new double-declutching function that is activated
during manual downshifts. As well as producing a sporty sound, this
function also enhances comfort and safety as the double-declutching
equalises the rotational speeds of the crankshaft and transmission.
This set-up gives the driver the advantage of even more harmonious gear
changes. Plus there is a noticeable reduction in load-change reactions.
The flagship engines in the SL line-up remain the eight-cylinder unit in the SL 500 developing 285 kW/388 hp and the V12 powerplant in the SL 600,
which develops 380 kW/517 hp thanks to its twin turbochargers. The
Mercedes engineers also worked meticulously on these models to further
reduce fuel consumption by up to 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Safety: lights for every driving situation, whatever the weather
For five decades, Mercedes sports cars have been
setting the pace when it comes to innovative developments in active and
passive safety for open-top cars: in the 1960s the SL was the first
sports car to feature a safety body based on Béla Barényi's principle,
while in the 1970s the SL pointed the way ahead with its three-point
inertia-reel seat belts fitted as standard. These developments were
followed by ABS and the airbag in the 1980s, while the automatic
roll-over bar and the robust integral seats celebrated their world
premieres in the R 129 in the late 1990s. The comprehensive range of
safety equipment available for the Mercedes sports car was rounded off
in 2001 following the introduction of innovations such as adaptive
front airbags and head/thorax sidebags.
The new-generation SL continues this tradition,
the main focus of the engineers' efforts this time being to improve
driving safety at night and in fog. Hence the sports car is equipped as
standard with powerful bi-xenon headlamps, which
are considerably more powerful and more energy-efficient than
comparable LED headlamps. In addition, the optionally available Intelligent Light System
provides five different lighting functions designed specifically for
typical driving situations and weather conditions: country mode,
motorway mode, enhanced fog lamps, cornering light function and active
light function. The variable-control bi‑xenon headlamps activate the
various lighting functions automatically. Motorway mode is activated in two stages when the speed exceeds 90 km/h, increasing the driver's range of vision by up to 60 percent.
When the active light function
is activated, the headlamps pivot to the side in line with the steering
angle when the driver enters a bend, increasing the range of visibility
by around 25 metres on a long bend compared with the conventional
dipped beam. The cornering light function is
activated automatically at speeds below 70 km/h when the driver steers
and/or indicates. This means that, as well as enhancing safety when
turning at junctions or on slip roads, this lighting function is also
active when cornering at low speed and improves illumination of the
areas at the side of the carriageway. The enhanced fog lamps
ensure better illumination of the verges, making it easier for drivers
to get their bearings. The intelligent headlamp technology installed in
the SL can therefore make an important contribution to road safety.
Interior: sporty ambience and hallmark Mercedes comfort
A look inside the new-generation SL shows what
Mercedes designers mean when they talk about the "balance of sportiness
and comfort". The integral seats, the new-look three-spoke leather steering wheel and the completely restyled instrument cluster
immediately make it clear that this is a thoroughbred sports car.
Everything fits perfectly, all the controls are easy to see and within
just as easy reach. The speedometer and rev counter sport a classic
chronometer design with new-look dials that promise unerring precision.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, the
cockpit instruments grab the driver's attention: the red speedometer
and rev counter needles are aroused from their "six o'clock position",
rotate once around the dials to their maximum values and then revert to
their zero positions. The message these needle movements convey to the
driver is unmistakable: "start your engine".
A wide range of colours and materials
allows Mercedes customers to design and appoint the interior of the
new-generation SL to their individual tastes. There are two types of
leather to choose from, as well as five different aluminium or
fine-wood trims and five colour combinations. The interior looks
especially luxurious and refined when specified with the new natural
beige/black colour scheme and the new wood trim elements in pale burr
walnut with a high-sheen finish.
The SL 600 underlines its top
billing in the SL line-up even more clearly than before. Inside the
passengers are cosseted by extremely soft Exclusive nappa leather and
trim elements in elegant poplar wood. V12 emblems on the seat
backrests, on the centre steering wheel spoke and on the door sills, as
well as the uniquely designed interior door panels round off the
refined twelve-cylinder ambience perfectly. On the outside, the
flagship SL model is distinguishable by its exclusive 18-inch
ten-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and discreet yet highly effective
detailing such as the matt-silver-painted louvres of the side air
outlets and the centre divider in the trapezoidal exhaust tailpipe
trims. Mercedes-Benz has upgraded the already extensive
standard-equipment package by adding the KEYLESS-GO system, Exclusive
nappa leather upholstery, climatised seats and a remote-locking boot
lid.
AIRSCARF: Mercedes invention extends the open-air season
The long list of systems that help to provide an
outstanding level of comfort in the roadster includes a further
innovation in the new-generation SL. AIRSCARF - the neck-level heating
system developed and patented by Mercedes engineers - is so called
because it distributes air at just the right temperature through the
head restraints, forming a warm, invisible "scarf" around the driver
and front passenger.
This Mercedes-Benz invention allows Mercedes
customers to enjoy open-air driving pleasure for longer and even more
often than before. The roadster season lasts until well into the winter
months as AIRSCARF provides the SL occupants with all the warmth they
need.
The optionally available heating system, which
celebrated its world premiere in the SLK Roadster in 2004, has been
redeveloped by the Mercedes engineers for the SL. Now the blower and
heating are incorporated in the head restraints of the integral seats:
two small ventilators draw in air behind the head restraints and
channel it through the electric heating element to ensure rapid
heating. The temperature-controlled air then flows out of special
openings on the front of the head restraints and warms the occupants'
head and neck areas. Both driver and passenger can select the heating
temperature using a three-position switch in the door lining; the
system then controls the desired temperature automatically depending on
the road speed with the roof down.
Infotainment: latest multimedia technology in the centre console
The new-generation SL is also ready for the
future when it comes to information, entertainment and communications:
Mercedes-Benz has further modified the standard-fit COMAND system,
equipping it with additional functions. The result is infotainment par
excellence: the multimedia unit combines a car radio including a triple
tuner with telephone controls, a CD/DVD changer and a slot for SD
memory cards. Further new additions include a Bluetooth interface,
which connects a mobile phone to the standard-fit hands-free system
wirelessly, and a large colour display (6.5 inch) that enhances
user-friendliness and serves as a high-resolution screen for playing
DVD films - although not whilst the car is being driven, for obvious
safety reasons.
An even wider range of high-tech electronics is available ex factory: Mercedes customers can now order the optional COMAND APS
system. Its additional features include a Europe-wide navigation system
whose data are stored on a hard disc and therefore allow extremely fast
route calculations. For playing music, there is an integrated six-disc
CD/DVD changer and Music Register for around 1000 MP3 or WMA tracks. A
stored database ("Gracenote") enables automatic recognition of the
music tracks and their artists. This information is then posted on the
colour display.
The standard COMAND APS package also includes the latest-generation LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system,
which controls the navigation, telephone and audio systems based on its
whole-word recognition capability. This system is of great benefit as
drivers no longer need to spell out their commands. Instead, they
simply say what they want, whether it be a destination for the
navigation system, a radio station or a name in the stored phone book.
For the first time, it is also possible to
connect an iPod, USB stick or other external audio devices to the
COMAND system thanks to the newly developed, universal Media Interface (optional)
in the centre console. This interface is more than just an electronic
"socket"; the Media Interface also includes an ECU that links the
external music storage media to the SL's on-board electronics and
control system. In this way, the iPod music tracks can also be
indicated on the instrument cluster and on the COMAND display in the
centre console. Plus they can be called up easily using the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel. The audio device's battery is charged
as long as the portable music storage media is connected to the car via
the Media Interface.
For a complete in-car music experience, Mercedes-Benz can equip the new-generation SL with the Harman Kardon "Logic7" surround sound system
(optional), which is also used in the S-Class and whose performance has
been confirmed in numerous tests. The sound system has an output of 510
watts and converts the SL interior into a mobile concert hall - whether
the vario-roof is up or down - courtesy of ten high-performance
loudspeakers and state-of-the-art surround technology.
The new generation SL will make its public debut
in March at the International Motor Show in Geneva. It will then appear
at Mercedes-Benz outlets and dealerships in Europe from April 5, 2008.
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