Mercedes has unveiled its new Mercedes SL for the first time in the metal on the eve of the Detroit motor show.
The new folding hard-top roadster (named R231 in Mercedes codename-speak) is the sixth generation of Mercedes SL and continues a line that started 60 years ago.
Original 1952 300SL joins the new one
For the latest car, Mercedes has focused on high tech and low weight. It saves 140kg over its predecessor, while a new range of direct-injection engines provide more power and better economy.
The new BlueDirect engines consist of a 3,499cc V6 for the SL350 and a 4,663cc twin-turbo V8 for the SL500. The new SL350 makes 306hp and 273lb ft of torque, enough to hit 62mph from rest in 5.9 seconds, while managing 41.5mpg on the official EU combined cycle (a 30 per cent improvement over its predecessor).
The V8 SL500 (known as the SL550 in Americaland), meanwhile, makes 12 per cent more power than the old naturally aspirated M273 engine, and 32 per cent more torque, giving it 435hp and 516lb ft of torque. That's enough for the new SL500 to manage 0-62mph in 4.6secs, shaving eight tenths of a second compared with the old model.
Dr Zee twiddles his tache with the new SL
On the gadget front, a new wiper blade system, called Magic Vision Control, streams wiper fluid along the blade to avoid an unwanted shower for the occupants when the roof is down. The entire wiper is heated as well.
The Detroit show model is the 'Edition 1' launch-spec car, which gets 19-inch AMG alloys, Harmon Kardon audio, 'Designo' leather and Merc's Airscarf neck-warming thingummy (though whether this is a global launch model or a US-specific set-up we're not sure).