"This is an example of a big change, but it will not get the same attention as our engine's power or size of brakes. Too bad." He's right. Mercedes's Intelligent Light System, which provides five different patterns of road illumination, including an active cornering function, will be standard on this car, increasing its already considerably high levels of safety.
Most of the other new stuff is of a more sybaritic nature, from the Airscarf neck heaters to the surround-sound stereo, from the new nav system and multimedia interface to the whole-word voice-recognition system. Those hard-core engineers in Stuttgart who still remember Sir Stirling's mighty run with Jenks in the 1955 Mille Miglia might resist the inclusion of even more amenities in their revered SL, but, as one of them put it, "We build our cars for our customers." And those customers have voted with their pocketbooks that they want world-class comfort along with the capabilities to enjoy an occasional wide-open road. Those wallets won't have to open much wider for the new models, either. A Mercedes spokesman indicates prices will stay close to existing MSRPs even with the additional content.
Meanwhile, we're gearing up for a first drive of the new SL 63 AMG. We'll let you know how much closer AMG comes to capturing the sturm und drang of that famous first SL in Motor Trend's March issue.
| 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL |
| Base Price | $97,000-$190,000 (est) |
| Vehicle Layout | Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door convertible |
| Engine | 5.50L/382-hp/391-lb-ft DOHC V-8; 5.50L/510-hp/612-lb-ft SOHC biturbo V-12; 6.0L/604-hp/738 lb-ft SOHC biturbo V-12 |
| Transmission | 7-speed automatic; 5-speed automatic |
| Curb Weight | 4300-4600 lb (est) |
| Wheelbase | 100.8 in |
| Length x Width x Height | N/A |
| 0-60 mph | 4.4-5.3 sec (mfr est)) |
| EPA City/Hwy Econ | 11-18/14-21 mpg (est) |
| CO2 Emissions | 0.0-0.0 lb/mile (est) |
| On Sale In U.S. | May 2008 |