"Sporty" and "Lightweight" were the hallmarks of the car unveiled more than 50 years ago that became a legend: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. In 1954, it entered series production as the "Gullwing", followed in 1957 by the launch of the first SL Roadster.

Since then the SL name has captured the hearts of sports car fans around the world - two letters that became synonymous with a legend on wheels, a legend set to continue well into the future.

Mercedes-Benz has developed, upgraded and improved the SL-Class down to the smallest detail - far beyond any normal facelift. This new generation builds on the glorious SL heritage in all departments: the design once again merits its "upscale" tag; the technology bar has been raised even further and the equipment and appointments are more discerning than ever.

The result was a car that offers an incomparable synthesis of sportiness, safety and comfort in this vehicle class: Mercedes refinement on a sporty level. In other words, the new-generation SL is the most refined way of experiencing an open-top sports car.

State-of-the-art technology creates the conditions for this perfect interplay. The SL-Class has always delivered the sort of innovation no other sports car could match anywhere in the world - from the active suspension system, through the sensor-controlled pop-up roll-over bar to the seven-speed automatic transmission. The new-generation SL is poised to consolidate its leading position by offering other highlights exclusively available from Mercedes-Benz in the shape of the AIRSCARF neck-level heating, the Intelligent Light System, the all-new COMAND system and the direct-steer system.

Six-cylinder models: high-tech through and through, from bi-xenon up to seven-speed automatic transmission as standard

The SL engines live up to the Mercedes aspiration of "Fascination and Responsibility", adding two new V6 units to the line-up that demonstrate convincingly that exemplary performance and low fuel consumption need not necessarily be irreconcilable: the SL 280 develops 170 kW/231 hp and consumes just 9.4 litres of premium petrol per 100 kilometres (NEDC). The sporty characteristics of the SL come right to the fore courtesy of the 232 kW/316 hp six-cylinder engine. The high-revving sports engine develops 16 percent more output than before, while NEDC combined consumption has been reduced by 0.4 to 9.9 litres per 100 kilometres.

Sporty drivers will not only be suitably impressed by the high torque and performance characteristics of the SL-Class six-cylinder models but will find the standard equipment package meets even the most discerning requirements. An overview*:

• Stowage compartment in front of/behind seats
  
  
• Adaptive brake lights
  
  
• Driver and front passenger airbags
  
  
• Ambient lighting
  
  
• Larger exterior mirrors (heated) with arrow-type LED indicator repeaters
  
  
• Outside temperature display
  
  
• Leather-trimmed automatic transmission selector lever
  
  
• AUX-IN connection in glove compartment
  
  
• Bi-xenon headlamps with headlamp cleaning system
  
  
• Brake Assist
  
  
• LED brake light
  
  
• COMAND with colour display, Bluetooth interface and CD/DVD changer
  
  
• Cup holder
  
  
• Anti-theft alarm system with tow-away protection
  
  
• ESP®
  
  
• Headlamp Assist
  
  
• Luggage box in the boot
  
  
• Removable luggage cover
  
  
• Seat belts with automatic comfort-fit
  
  
• Belt tensioners and belt force limiters
  
  
• Ventilated glove compartment
  
  
• Head/thorax sidebags
  
  
• Remote boot-lid release system
  
  
• Integral seats, electrically adjustable (SL 350 and higher incl. memory function)
  
  
• Child seat detection in the front passenger seat
  
  
• Automatic climate control with combined filter and residual heat mode
  
  
• Leather steering wheel with three spokes
  
  
• 17-inch light-alloy wheels
  
  
• Electrically adjustable steering column (SL 350 and higher incl. memory function)
  
  
• Speed-sensitive power steering
  
  
• Upholstery in leather/fabric combination
  
  
• Rain sensor
  
  
• Trip computer
  
  
• 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission
  
  
• Cruise control
  
  
• Roll-over bar with crash sensor
  
  
• Vario-roof with remote control
  
  
• Immobiliser
  
  
• Draught stop (SL 350 or higher)
  
  
• Central locking incl. glove compartment, centre console and rear stowage compartments
  
  
• Aluminium trim elements
  
  

Eight-cylinder engine: pole position courtesy of Active Body Control

The powerful eight-cylinder engine with 285 kW/388 hp, available for the SL 500 since 2006, remains unchanged in the Mercedes sports car line-up. Its petrol consumption (NEDC) has been reduced by 0.3 litres. Mercedes-Benz has upgraded the standard specification for the new-generation SL with 18-inch light-alloy wheels. An overview* of the additional standard equipment and appointments for the SL 500:

• Active Body Control
  
  
• Automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors
  
  
• Leather upholstery
  
  
• 18-inch light-alloy wheels
  
  
• Metallic paintwork
  
  
• Heated seats
  
  
• Burr walnut trim elements
  
  

Twelve-cylinder engine: technology and equipment of the highest order

The top-of-the-line SL model is fitted with the 380 kW/517 hp V12 biturbo engine. The Mercedes engineers have reduced fuel consumption for the 12-cylinder unit by 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres.

A raft of special styling details has given the unique position of the 12-cylinder model an even sharper edge, including silver-painted air outlets and V12 emblems on the front wings, exclusive 18-inch 10-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, V12 emblems on the seat backrests, poplar wood trim elements or the specially designed interior door panels trimmed in leather. The convenient KEYLESS-GO access and drive authorisation system, the remote boot-lid release system and the new COMAND APS system including hard-disc navigation enhance the already high-quality specification of the SL 600. An overview* of the additional standard equipment and appointments for the SL 600:

• COMAND APS including Europe-wide hard-disc navigation system
  
  
• Remote boot-lid release system
  
  
• KEYLESS-GO
  
  
• Climatised seats and V12 emblems
  
  
• Exclusive nappa leather upholstery
  
  
• 18-inch ten-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels
  
  
• Wood/leather steering wheel
  
  
• PARKTRONIC
  
  
• LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system
  
  
• Surround sound system
  
  
• V12 emblems on the front wings
  
  
• Poplar wood trim elements
  
  

Optional extras: spoilt for choice

Mercedes-Benz offers a host of optional extras to meet the needs of the many customers looking for even more individuality and comfort. Optional extras for the new-generation SL range from the new AIRSCARF system to the surround sound system.
An overview*:

• Active Body Control (standard on the SL 500 and SL 600)
  
  
• AIRSCARF
  
  
• COMAND APS incl. CD/DVD changer, Music Register, Europe-wide hard-disc-based navigation and voice-operated control system (standard on the SL 600)
  
  
• Direct-steer system with variable servo assistance
  
  
• DISTRONIC
  
  
• Intelligent Light System
  
  
• KEYLESS-GO (standard on the SL 600)
  
  
• Climatised seats (heated and ventilated) (standard on the SL 600)
  
  
• Media Interface in the centre console
  
  
• Panoramic glass vario-roof
  
  
• PARKTRONIC (standard on the SL 600)
  
  
• Run-flat tyres
  
  
• Tyrepressure monitoring system (standard on the SL 600)
  
  
• 7G-TRONIC Sport seven-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel gearshift paddles
  
  
• Analogue/digital TV tuner
  
  
• Black ash trim elements
  
  
• Pale burr walnut trim elements with high-sheen finish
  
  

*Selection


Sports package: exclusivity down to the smallest detail

Mercedes-Benz continues to offer an optional sports package for the new-generation SL (SL 280 to SL 500), made up of a range of special styling and engineering details, some of which are not available separately, to add that extra touch of exclusivity to the sports car. Headlamps with black-coloured inner frames are the new hallmark of the SL models with the sports package. The package also comes with the following equipment and appointments (selection):

• Seats, steering wheel, dashboard, centre console, armrest, automatic transmission selector lever and interior door panels with fine, silver-coloured contrasting topstitching
  
  
• Steering wheel and automatic transmission selector lever trimmed in perforated leather
  
  
• Prism-pattern aluminium trim elements
  
  
• Roof lining trimmed in black fabric
  
  
• 19-inch five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels
  
  
• Painted front brake callipers, with "Mercedes-Benz" lettering
  
  
• Perforated disc brakes all round
  
  
• Bi-xenon headlamps with black-painted inner frames
  
  
• Darkened rear light units
  
  
• Seven-speed automatic sports transmission with steering-wheel gearshift paddles

Success story: number one in the global premium sports-car market

Since the mid-1950s Mercedes-Benz has produced over 630,000 SL sports cars. The R 107 series sold 237,000 units and was produced for 18 years between 1971 and 1989: in absolute terms the best-selling model over the longest period in this Mercedes model series.

However, the actual bestseller to date has been the R 129, which proved an undoubted hit with drivers, notching up some 205,000 units in "just" twelve and a half years between 1989 and 2001. However, the current SL-Class (R 230) is even more successful. Compared with the sales of the predecessor model in the first six and a half years after the market launch, the current SL is well ahead with 140,000 units already to its name.

From the outset, the SL was a real export success story, decisively contributing to making the slogan "made in Germany" a household name around the world. Particularly in the USA the Mercedes sports car ranks among the masterpieces of German automotive engineering. Boasting a 51 percent market share, the U.S. remains the main market for the SL-Class.

Competition in the small but upscale market segment for luxury sports cars has increased substantially over the past few years. While the SL would be struggling to find a competitor 10 years ago, today an increasing number of brands are slugging it out with ever more models aimed at sports car aficionados.

Despite this fiercely competitive market, the Mercedes-Benz SL is and remains the world's number one open-top premium sports car in this class - a lead Mercedes-Benz intends to build upon with the new-generation SL over the next few years.

And so the legend lives on.







































































Copyright © 2008, Daimler AG