Thursday 25th August 2011

Spied: New Mercedes SL On The Move

Eagle-eyed PHer captures next year's new SL on film

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We're not normally ones for spy shots here on PH, but the tendrils of the curious PH community get into all sorts of places, so here's one of the forthcoming Mercedes SL.

Codenamed R231, the new car is due to be unveiled in December this year before going on sale in 2012.

Our man on the autobahn (a PHer whose identity we shall protect since he was filming while driving - tut tut, don't do it at home etc, etc) might not win any Oscars for his contribution, but it does show off what appear to be SLK-style lights and a more SLS-style nose.

Word has it that the R231 SL will also get the 'Magic Sky' glass roof, which darkens at the touch of a button.

More intriguingly, our man in Deutschland reckons the car will be running a turbocharged 382bhp, 361lb ft version of the new M276 V6... (though this is as yet unconfirmed by Mercedes)

 

 

[B10]

It better be more reliable than the current one.

[Luca Brasi]

Will be there a V12 again or was the R230 the last one?

[Nors]

Older SL's have so much more character!

Edit: And better built!

Edited by Nors on Thursday 25th August 11:56

[Riggers]

Luca Brasi said:

Will be there a V12 again or was the R230 the last one?

I've only heard tell of the V8, but I may be wrong (it has been known)

[C15]

V8 AMG only I've heard.. all others including full hybrid V6's only.. 3.0l, 3.5l & 3.5l Turbo. If you look at the current E-classes they are the same. C-Class Coupe has the V6 306HP version already available, and the E-class has a hybrid..

Mercedes has never been good at variation within the engines in all models..

[soad]

Decent spot there! Looks alright too.
V12 engine option is retired then

[theredmini]

I saw a few of them driving in Convoy in Stuttgart in June. I managed to get a snap when they stopped at some lights:

[C15]

Nors said:

And better built!

Anything that comes out of Bad-Canstatt or Unterturkheim has mostly inherent problems.. must be all that cost saving to make profit..

Mind you from what I have heard Zuffenhausen and Finland arent spared Quality issues either...

[PaulFontaine]

Nors said:

Older SL's have so much more character!

Edit: And better built!

Edited by Nors on Thursday 25th August 11:56

That cracks me up the car isn't even released but you are already saying it has poor build quality having never touched it or knowing anything about it. Way to reserve judgement

[Nors]

PaulFontaine said:

That cracks me up the car isn't even released but you are already saying it has poor build quality having never touched it or knowing anything about it. Way to reserve judgement

Valid point!, however, going by past experiences............. Is there anything to demonstrate that recent MB's have gone through a step change in attention to build quality, as promised by MB in recent years? So, what is there to assume at the moment at least that this one will be any different. But yes, I'm making an assumption! I also know it's a spy photo, but it doesn't look like it's too far removed from the last couple of versions, and in my opinion (doesn't have to be yours) the older ones look better and were better built than what's recently been produced.

Edited by Nors on Thursday 25th August 14:59

[635csi]

I have an early R230 SL55. I love it, its a great hot rod / grand tourer combination.

But it is really heavy, nearly 2 tonnes I think?

Despite the ABC suspension you do feel that weight.

Somebody said that this one could be much lighter, that could add another dimension to the car

[Turtle head]

Videos wont work says im in the wrong country but i'm in the UK. Unless solihull has been annexed recently and i didnt know.

[Moog72]

Can't be any worse build quality than my rather hopeless and now departed SL55 (2003 vintage) - ABC pump failed, crank position sensor failed, one of those trick suspension uprights failed, front wishbones worn out in 20k miles and failed 2nd MOT, boot mechanism didn't work properly, took several attempts to fix.

Great car (engine actually), but does feel heavy - get a decent example and I'm sure people love 'em

[thewheelman]

Moog72 said:

Can't be any worse build quality than my rather hopeless and now departed SL55 (2003 vintage) - ABC pump failed, crank position sensor failed, one of those trick suspension uprights failed, front wishbones worn out in 20k miles and failed 2nd MOT, boot mechanism didn't work properly, took several attempts to fix.

Great car (engine actually), but does feel heavy - get a decent example and I'm sure people love 'em

Ouch! Sounds expensive.