Official Details Of Next Generation SL-Class

Posted by www.eMercedesBenz.com on January 18, 2006 at 8:15 AM CST
As we told you yesterday, Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed our  
previous story that the SL-Class will receive a number of new  
enhancements for the next model year.

Today, DaimlerChrysler has put out a press release detailing the  
specifics of what exact areas of the SL-Class will benefit from the  
upgrade.

The first and most notable enhancements are the SL's power plants.  
The Mercedes SL 350 will be powered by a new 272 horsepower V6 that  
propels the SL from 0-60 in 6.6 seconds, and at the same time  
provides owners with fuel savings of one liter per 100 kilometers  
when compared to the previous model.  The SL 500 will also receive a  
significant power upgrade, taking advantage of Mercedes' new 5.5- 
Liter 388 horsepower V8.  Thanks to the new engine, the SL 500 now  
sports a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds, compared to the 6.2 seconds  
required by the previous version.  Finally, the SL 600's V12 biturbo  
has been slightly reworked, with output and maximum torque being  
increased to 380 kW/517 hp and 830 newtonmetres, respectively.

In addition to the power enhancements, Mercedes has tweaked the rest  
of the SL as well to provide a more responsive and "sportier"  
roadster.  A few highlights include a newly developed exhaust system  
on all engine variants, a re-worked Active Body Control System, a new  
steering setup, and an optional 7G-TRONIC sport system which allows  
drivers to shift up to 30% faster than the conventional "M" mode  
thanks to F1 style steering-wheel shift paddles.

Finally, to round out the new SL-Class, Mercedes engineers addressed  
the look of the vehicle.  For the exterior, a new bumper in the front  
with three large cooling air intakes and a more pronounced "V-shape"  
was added, giving the SL-Class a wider, more aggressive stance.  In  
the rear, new light units with their horizontal divisions and red/ 
white clear-lens design further accentuate the "sportier" SL.  As for  
the interior, engineer's left it virtually unchanged. Softer leather,  
new colors, and additional chrome and aluminum-look switches and  
gauges are a few small enhancements prospective buyers will notice  
when comparing the new SL to the previous model.

I think that just about covers it.  Personally, I've been a huge fan  
of the SL's styling since day one, so the fact Mercedes' added a  
little extra power is just the icing on the cake.

For more info and the full details of the new Mercedes-Benz SL-Class,  
check out the full press release and photos by clicking the link below:

http://www.emercedesbenz.com/