New Mercedes SL: lighter, safer, faster
Thursday 15 December 2011
• Up to 140kgs lighter and 29 per cent more efficient
• 3.5-litre SL 350 and 4.7-litre SL 500 models available at launch
• Class-leading refinement and comfort
The first official pictures of the Mercedes SL have been released, ahead of its launch in July 2012.
Mercedes says the completely-redeveloped SL is 140kgs lighter than the current model, which will help it to offer agile, sporty handling with exemplary ride comfort.
The SL 350 and SL 500 models offered from launch will produce more power, but despite this, they will be up to 29 per cent more efficient.
The 3.5-litre V6 engine in the SL 350 produces 306bhp and 373lb/ft of pulling power, propelling the roadster to 62mph in 5.9 seconds – 0.3 seconds faster than the current car. And returning an average of 41.5mpg, it is around 30 per cent more economical.
Topping the range until an AMG model is launched will be the SL 500. Despite carrying an engine 800cc smaller than its predecessor, the 435bhp 4.7-litre V8 is 12 per cent more powerful and offers 32 per cent more pulling power – 516lb/ft. With a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds – an improvement of 0.8 seconds – fuel consumption is reduced by 22 per cent.
Both engines are available exclusively with a seven-speed automatic gearbox which has been optimised for efficiency.
The SL retains its folding roof, but three versions are offered: painted, with a glass roof or Magic Sky Control which sees the roof turning from its solid appearance to virtually transparent at the touch of a button. It takes 20 seconds to raise or lower the roof.
The roofs are six kilograms lighter than that of the current car, which lowers the centre of gravity for improved handling.
Mercedes has developed a number of light weight steering, suspension and axle components in the pursuit of improved agility, and the SL features a new electromechanical steering system that varies its assistance and speed depending on how fast the car is travelling.
The SL is offered with two world firsts. Magic Vision Control is a new wash/wipe system that applies water just in front of the wiper for improved cleaning and less water to ingress into the passenger compartment when the roof is folded down.
The second premier is the FrontBass system which effectively turns the passenger footwells into speaker cabinets for improved sound quality. This is helped by improved cabin refinement which is said to be on par with a closed-roof saloon car.
Mercedes says the new SL is the world’s safest roadster, with pop-up roll bars, whiplash-reducing NECK-PRO headrests, a pop up bonnet and drowsiness detection are all offered as standard. Automatic braking is offered as an option.
Pricing and final UK specification details will be announced nearer to its July 2012 on-sale date.
By Stuart Milne, Deputy Editor