Monday 9th January 2012

Detroit show: new Mercedes SL debuts

Motor show unveil for Merc's latest roadster

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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.

You can read a more detailed account of the new SL's spec in our previous story here

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).

 

 

[myhandle]

It will be a brilliant car, but the looks lack elegance when compared with say a 1999 SL or a 2003 SL.

[GBDG]

That is a bloody impressive MPG figure. Better than an Mx5 and similar to a 1.6 Focus!

[Veeayt]

But 435bhp from 5 litre twin turbo? That's frankly ridiculous

[Luca Brasi]

Impressive figures but I'd still rather have an XK or maybe even a Grancabrio.

[beeblebrox]

"Magic Vision Control"? They've taken a leaf out of Apple's marketing playbook then...

[mrclav]

What is impressive is that in comparison to the new SL500 the SL55 AMG from 2002 is only a 10th of a second faster from 0-60 and uses almost double the amount of fuel... I guess that 140kg loss helps too.

As for the SL350 - 0-62 in 5.9 seconds and 41.5mpg? Seriously impressive!

[Not Ideal]

Looks like a Beemer 6 series from the front with those lights.

Engines are mighty impressive.

[BigTom85]

myhandle said:

It will be a brilliant car, but the looks lack elegance when compared with say a 1999 SL or a 2003 SL.

This, absolutely agree 100%. I'd very much like one all the same.

[will261058]

Like the look of this but dont think the lights make it look like a 6 series (which I also like btw). That massive grill in the middle stops any comparison with the six for me!

[MrTappets]

Tech is hugely impressive, but from the styling I don't want one at all, not even slightly. Way too fat, bland and inelegant.

[LukeBird]

Not Ideal said:

Engines are mighty impressive.

+1
Assuming those MPG figures are vaguely achievable, that's very impressive.
The SL350 could be the sweet spot of the range now, that offers broadly speaking the same performance and power as my mate's '54 SL500 (that is a bit torquier though) with vastly better MPG.

[tbc]

it's a good looking car, but it's not exactly pushing the boundaries of Merc's design team

they have definitely played it safe

[simon458]

MrTappets said:

Tech is hugely impressive, but from the styling I don't want one at all, not even slightly. Way too fat, bland and inelegant.

It looks pants. The last three SL's looked awesome - but this just looks terrible IMO.

[sinbaddio]

How long until there's a diesel in there I wonder??

[ultrastapler]

it's certainly no looker is it

[gumsie]

sinbaddio said:

How long until there's a diesel in there I wonder??

Eons I hope.

[Or888t]

As sad, engines are very immpressive! Genuine shame they're in such a awful looking body, very nice weight saving too but, it's poles apart from the gorgeous '03 sl.

[Dave Hedgehog]

too hair dresser for me, more TVR like in the future please

[Ali_T]

Still looks utterly generic. Merc might have problems with quality but at least they were being more adventurous 10 years ago.

[tonym911]

Funny how MB has adopted that 'big three-pointed star in the rad' look so beloved of C- and E-Class-owning chavvies of 20 years ago.