The Mercedes Sport-Leicht (SL) has carved itself an enviable niche, despite being neither light nor particularly sporty. Since the launch of the original in 1957, Mercedes has sold more than 633,000 SLs.
The R230 model of the SL that Mercedes-Benz introduced in 2001 has become the best-selling SL in history, and the U.S. accounts for more than half of its total worldwide sales. There was a time when the SL existed outside Mercedes' normal model program and such sales success might lead to years of continued production. After all, the R107 version continued almost unchanged from 1971-'89.
But in today's fad-crazed world, change is an obligation, not an option, so the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL arrives with a significant face-lift. The most obvious alterations are aesthetic, but there are also subtle revisions to the interior and the mechanical package. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL600 reach U.S. showrooms in mid-May.
Back to the Future
Maybe it's a good thing the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL has changed. The understated and even slightly effeminate lines of the outgoing SL have been given a dramatic overhaul. The new nose is more aggressive and masculine, even strident. In ushering in this change, Mercedes is trying to blend styling cues from its current lineup — note the similarity of the new headlamps to those of the CLS and S-Class — with homage to the SL's past.
For example, the bold, six-point radiator grille recalls the SLs of the 1960s and '70s, while the power domes in the hood hint at the original 300SL of the 1950s. At the rear, a new aero diffuser beneath the bumper emphasizes the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL's sporting credentials, although its functional benefits are questionable. Some of the detailing, such as the gill-style air intakes in the front fenders, seems a little contrived, but there can be no denying that the new SL now has more visual presence than before.
"Its predecessor was very rounded and defensive," says Hans-Dieter Futschik, Mercedes-Benz's director of design. "I wouldn't call it aggressive, but the car shows a bit more pride now. Mercedes' new models are sharper than before, with clearer, defined surfaces, and this is a character that we wanted to introduce to the SL. The new design language is so different, so we had to change the hood and the fenders."
AMG Is Standard
Though the demographic of typical SL customers isn't exactly youthful — a consequence of the car's large price tag — every SL bound for the U.S. will incorporate the AMG body-styling kit as standard equipment.
It seems like the smart thing, since almost 100 percent of the customers for the new CL coupe choose AMG styling and even 30 percent of S-Class buyers make the same choice. The most noticeable departure of the AMG kit from the standard model is a redesigned front valance that forms a Z-shape with the front grille. The standard car's valance describes a V-shape.
The SL63 AMG and the SL65 AMG will have a distinctive look of their own, but they will not be seen in public until the Geneva auto show in March. According to Martin Dierks, the SL's project manager, "The AMG models will differ more strongly from the standard models than before. They will be different technically and will have different wheels and body parts."
Stay the Course
The changes to the interior of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL are minimal to say the least. The new instrument dials and three-spoke steering wheel both hint at the SLR, and there's a new hard-disk satellite navigation system with sufficient capacity for music storage. Mercedes has also introduced a version of the Airscarf system pioneered by the SLK, and now the heating elements and fans are incorporated into the seat's head restraints, producing a flow of hot air around your head and neck.
And that's about it. The SL's cabin remains lavishly equipped and comfortable, but it's worth remembering that it dates from a time when the quality standards at Mercedes had reached an all-time low. Some of the interior fixtures and fittings — notably the rotary air-conditioning controls — still feel disappointingly cheap to us.
Steer the Course
In Europe, the big news is the introduction of two new V6 engines for the SL, but neither will be making the voyage across the Atlantic. Instead, the U.S.-specification SL will continue to feature either the 388-horsepower 5.5-liter V8 or the 517-hp twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12, both of which have been tuned for a modest improvement in fuel consumption.
At the moment, the SL550 accounts for 86 percent of sales, and Mercedes expects this to continue. The SL600 accounts for just 3 percent of the SL mix, with the remaining 11 percent comprising the AMG models, of which the SL63 will be by far the most popular.
The most interesting change to the SL is the introduction of new power-assisted variable-ratio steering. The ratio of the steering rack quickens as you dial in more steering lock, increasingly sharply at angles above 5 degrees. In theory, this new system combines improved straight-line stability with quicker response when the road starts to twist. "The car feels much lighter, agile and sporting," Dierks tells us. As before, the power-assist changes according to road speed and works in conjunction with the SL's active body control.
The only other change to the car's performance profile is the introduction of bi-xenon headlamps featuring what Mercedes calls an Intelligent Light System. These lights offer five different functions, including cornering, country and highway modes. Mercedes claims a 60 percent improvement in the driver's field of vision on the highway at speeds above 90 km/h (56 mph).
Enduring Style, Enduring Success
Prices for the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL600 probably won't be announced until the New York auto show in March, but we're not expecting a significant change when compared with the current model, especially in the current economic climate. A Mercedes spokesman tells us the cars will offer "better value" — in other words, a significant increase in standard kit for a little more money.
Although the technical changes to the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL are modest, the aesthetic revisions are sufficient for Mercedes to present it as a new model. The latest SL might lack the simple, graceful elegance of its illustrious predecessors from the 1950s and '60s, but this convincing presentation should ensure this car's continued success.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
The R230 model of the SL that Mercedes-Benz introduced in 2001 has become the best-selling SL in history, and the U.S. accounts for more than half of its total worldwide sales. There was a time when the SL existed outside Mercedes' normal model program and such sales success might lead to years of continued production. After all, the R107 version continued almost unchanged from 1971-'89.
But in today's fad-crazed world, change is an obligation, not an option, so the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL arrives with a significant face-lift. The most obvious alterations are aesthetic, but there are also subtle revisions to the interior and the mechanical package. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL600 reach U.S. showrooms in mid-May.
Back to the Future
Maybe it's a good thing the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL has changed. The understated and even slightly effeminate lines of the outgoing SL have been given a dramatic overhaul. The new nose is more aggressive and masculine, even strident. In ushering in this change, Mercedes is trying to blend styling cues from its current lineup — note the similarity of the new headlamps to those of the CLS and S-Class — with homage to the SL's past.
For example, the bold, six-point radiator grille recalls the SLs of the 1960s and '70s, while the power domes in the hood hint at the original 300SL of the 1950s. At the rear, a new aero diffuser beneath the bumper emphasizes the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL's sporting credentials, although its functional benefits are questionable. Some of the detailing, such as the gill-style air intakes in the front fenders, seems a little contrived, but there can be no denying that the new SL now has more visual presence than before.
"Its predecessor was very rounded and defensive," says Hans-Dieter Futschik, Mercedes-Benz's director of design. "I wouldn't call it aggressive, but the car shows a bit more pride now. Mercedes' new models are sharper than before, with clearer, defined surfaces, and this is a character that we wanted to introduce to the SL. The new design language is so different, so we had to change the hood and the fenders."
AMG Is Standard
Though the demographic of typical SL customers isn't exactly youthful — a consequence of the car's large price tag — every SL bound for the U.S. will incorporate the AMG body-styling kit as standard equipment.
It seems like the smart thing, since almost 100 percent of the customers for the new CL coupe choose AMG styling and even 30 percent of S-Class buyers make the same choice. The most noticeable departure of the AMG kit from the standard model is a redesigned front valance that forms a Z-shape with the front grille. The standard car's valance describes a V-shape.
The SL63 AMG and the SL65 AMG will have a distinctive look of their own, but they will not be seen in public until the Geneva auto show in March. According to Martin Dierks, the SL's project manager, "The AMG models will differ more strongly from the standard models than before. They will be different technically and will have different wheels and body parts."
Stay the Course
The changes to the interior of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL are minimal to say the least. The new instrument dials and three-spoke steering wheel both hint at the SLR, and there's a new hard-disk satellite navigation system with sufficient capacity for music storage. Mercedes has also introduced a version of the Airscarf system pioneered by the SLK, and now the heating elements and fans are incorporated into the seat's head restraints, producing a flow of hot air around your head and neck.
And that's about it. The SL's cabin remains lavishly equipped and comfortable, but it's worth remembering that it dates from a time when the quality standards at Mercedes had reached an all-time low. Some of the interior fixtures and fittings — notably the rotary air-conditioning controls — still feel disappointingly cheap to us.
Steer the Course
In Europe, the big news is the introduction of two new V6 engines for the SL, but neither will be making the voyage across the Atlantic. Instead, the U.S.-specification SL will continue to feature either the 388-horsepower 5.5-liter V8 or the 517-hp twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12, both of which have been tuned for a modest improvement in fuel consumption.
At the moment, the SL550 accounts for 86 percent of sales, and Mercedes expects this to continue. The SL600 accounts for just 3 percent of the SL mix, with the remaining 11 percent comprising the AMG models, of which the SL63 will be by far the most popular.
The most interesting change to the SL is the introduction of new power-assisted variable-ratio steering. The ratio of the steering rack quickens as you dial in more steering lock, increasingly sharply at angles above 5 degrees. In theory, this new system combines improved straight-line stability with quicker response when the road starts to twist. "The car feels much lighter, agile and sporting," Dierks tells us. As before, the power-assist changes according to road speed and works in conjunction with the SL's active body control.
The only other change to the car's performance profile is the introduction of bi-xenon headlamps featuring what Mercedes calls an Intelligent Light System. These lights offer five different functions, including cornering, country and highway modes. Mercedes claims a 60 percent improvement in the driver's field of vision on the highway at speeds above 90 km/h (56 mph).
Enduring Style, Enduring Success
Prices for the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL600 probably won't be announced until the New York auto show in March, but we're not expecting a significant change when compared with the current model, especially in the current economic climate. A Mercedes spokesman tells us the cars will offer "better value" — in other words, a significant increase in standard kit for a little more money.
Although the technical changes to the new 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL are modest, the aesthetic revisions are sufficient for Mercedes to present it as a new model. The latest SL might lack the simple, graceful elegance of its illustrious predecessors from the 1950s and '60s, but this convincing presentation should ensure this car's continued success.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
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