RE: Mercedes SL400 launched
Monday 7th April 2014
Naturally our attention when discussing the Mercedes SL is on the varying levels of AMG lunacy available. But now the new entry level model (or as entry level as an SL can be) is a rather interesting prospect.
Engine in an E-Class cab too if you fancyThe 3.5-litre SL350 has become the 3.0-litre SL400. The twin-turbo V6 has 27hp more (333 against 306) and a significant 81lb ft extra (273 becomes 354). Featuring clever tech such as spray-guided combustion, piezo injectors with up to five injections per stroke and multi-spark injection, the efficiency stats are fairly startling as well; 172g/km and 39.2mpg sit very nicely with 155mph and 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds.
Mercedes SL400 launched
Another Mercedes NA engine bites the dust, another turbo'd torque monster in its place
Engine in an E-Class cab too if you fancy
The SL400 is on sale now in Germany at 97,282.50 euros (£80,452 at today's exchange rate). That's more than an SL500 (£79,970) over here so expect a UK price nearer the outgoing SL350's £69,960 when it arrives in showrooms. There isn't an official date yet but, with summer just around the corner, it can't be far away.
One more thing, just finally. The SL400's engine is already available in another Mercedes convertible that lingers in the pricelists rather unknown. The E400 cabriolet has less torque than the SL but the same power and is just a tenth slower to 62mph. It's under £50K too. Not a conventional rival of course but an intriguing car nonetheless.
Discussion
myhandle said:
This generation SL looks awful, nothing like a sportscar-GT at all. The E400 looks to be a great cruising car however, and is styled accordingly. E400 wins it.
Remember, the SL is not designed to appeal to you, its for Americans that will actually buy it by the thousands.Never has the Mercedes SL ever looked so ugly. All the previous models were sleek and pretty, this looks like its covered in poxy tinsel. Such a shame. That E class looks much nicer. Mercedes used to be elegant, now its all about huge wheels, ridiculous wheel arches and tacky chrome apparently. What happened to taste and class merc?
sgq89 said:
Never has the Mercedes SL ever looked so ugly. All the previous models were sleek and pretty, this looks like its covered in poxy tinsel. Such a shame. That E class looks much nicer. Mercedes used to be elegant, now its all about huge wheels, ridiculous wheel arches and tacky chrome apparently. What happened to taste and class merc?
+1 - This version is just a 'nose job'. A swoopy elegant car between the wheels with a fussy nose and arse. No cohesion at all.steveb8189 said:
Looks very nice. I'm sure the N/A lovers will complain about the turbo but I'd just enjoy the extra torque.
I'm well behind the times - when did German cars become 15% cheaper here than in Germany?
I dunno about other NA fans but I only prefer a big NA over a small boaosted engine. I'm well behind the times - when did German cars become 15% cheaper here than in Germany?
A big engine that's also boosted, who wouldn't want that??
LuS1fer said:
Really? That E400 is a munter even by munting standards.
I quite like the SL.
The E400 is meant to be a half-price Bentley Continental GTC, or alternatively a BMW 4 series rival for a slightly older demographic. Certainly not meant to be a sports car, but a nice, solid, stylish car with fairly good performance, and not over flashy. I think it fulfils its role very well.I quite like the SL.
The SL is something quite else, it is Mercedes' ultimate sports-GT-tourer (SLS is a sports car). The previous modern SL generations, the R129 (1989-2000) and the R230 (2001-2012) were good looking cars, with some taughtness and cohesion, without looking like out and out sports cars, as they were not meant to out-and-out sports cars. The current SL is surely not one of the great looking Mercedes.
Mercedes keep banging on about "the best or nothing". Of these two, the E400 is the one which possibly is the best car in its segment. This generation of SL can't claim that, unless the segment in question is "something well made whilst being enough of a visual mess to replace buyers' Lexus SC430s now they are no longer being built".
jamespink said:
Remember, the SL is not designed to appeal to you, its for Americans that will actually buy it by the thousands.
True, however the previous two generations of SL were appealing to both Americans and other markets. Surely they could have come up with a better shape than this, even with the current pedestrian impact restrictions. The SL has a big price range from most basic to SL65 AMG, and of its rivals, the 4 series and 6 series look better, so does the Audi A5, the Bentley Continental range, the various Aston Martins, and for that matter many of Mercedes' other models. Mercedes need to revisit this design like Ferrari did with the California, making the second version much sleeker.sgq89 said:
Never has the Mercedes SL ever looked so ugly. All the previous models were sleek and pretty, this looks like its covered in poxy tinsel. Such a shame. That E class looks much nicer. Mercedes used to be elegant, now its all about huge wheels, ridiculous wheel arches and tacky chrome apparently. What happened to taste and class merc?
I can't believe you're looking at the same picture. Huge wheels - nothing out of proportion so no; Ridiculous wheel arches - certainly not; chrome - apart from a simple horizontal piece on the grill and the side vent I can't see any elsewhere.
I think it looks very nice and hope the AMG goes a lot further with the styling.
PHMatt said:
I dunno about other NA fans but I only prefer a big NA over a small boaosted engine.
A big engine that's also boosted, who wouldn't want that??
Some don't like the character of a turbo lump. I find the turbo engine in the new M5/6 dull compared to the old screamer. It's very competent but it doesn't excite me the same way the V8 M3 engine did, or the old V10.A big engine that's also boosted, who wouldn't want that??
PHMatt said:
steveb8189 said:
Looks very nice. I'm sure the N/A lovers will complain about the turbo but I'd just enjoy the extra torque.
I'm well behind the times - when did German cars become 15% cheaper here than in Germany?
I dunno about other NA fans but I only prefer a big NA over a small boaosted engine. I'm well behind the times - when did German cars become 15% cheaper here than in Germany?
A big engine that's also boosted, who wouldn't want that??
LuS1fer said:
myhandle said:
This generation SL looks awful, nothing like a sportscar-GT at all. The E400 looks to be a great cruising car however, and is styled accordingly. E400 wins it.
Really? That E400 is a munter even by munting standards.I quite like the SL.
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