Merc1

Makes sense, since the car still beats the competition in most comparos.

M

Merc1

Until someone else builds a luxury-GT with a folding hardtop that compares the SL has this market and even the most jaded of critics admit this. Jaguar, BMW, Lexus can't have it. The real competitors will be this new Maserati coupe the Aston V8 Vantage, both to a degree. Neither have the same funtionality, but they are hella GT cars aimed at the SL or CL too in the case of the Maser.

M

Merc1

Is that a new Mercedes SL?

Well yes and no. Yes because it’s a facelift, but no because it isn’t a new car. The fifth-generation SL was revised less than a year ago, but Mercedes tends to give the big roadster a long lifecycle so this second facelift should keep the SL going until an all-new car appears in 2011.

This refresh will allow the SL to face off against ever-stiffening convertible competition from Porsche's 911 and Aston Martin's V8 Vantage, and forthcoming cars from Audi and Bentley.

The SL's interior will be spruced up with some of the innovations from the new C-class cabin; the SL's cockpit has always felt pretty special, but the company is continuing its quest to build solid, hewn-from-granite interiors. Mercedes hopes the look will convince customers that quality is back.

But the 'new' SL looks the same from the back

Indeed it does, but there are subtle tweaks to freshen up the lights, whilst the body-coloured rubbing strips on the rear bumper have been removed, for a cleaner, more uncluttered look.

Also new at the back will be lower exhaust emissions, as Mercedes brings direct injection to the SL. First shown on the 3.5-litre V6 CLS last year, the technology – dubbed CGI – will also be available for the first time on the 5.5-litre V8. Will the SL get diesel power for the first time? It would be the perfect home for the 3.0-litre V6 putting out 235bhp and 398lb ft; BMW is doing a 635d twin-turbo in the facelifted 6-series, after all.

The much-loved SL55 AMG will take a bow to be replaced by the SL63 AMG. The 6.2-litre V8 might not have as much torque as the supercharged car, but at least the traction control won’t be called into action as often.

Ah, that definitely looks new

Well of course, this is a facelift after all. The grille and front bumper are slightly more angular, tapering to a point to match the look on the facelifted E-class and new C-class. The three bar grille is also replaced by one solitary chrome-effect bar.

However, the most obvious change is the adoption of the CLS-esque boomerang headlamps. The refresh should keep the SL going until 2011. Prices are only expected to rise a little so expect a SL350 CGI to come in just shy of £65k.


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Direct-Injection for the 5.5L V8? Uh-oh, 400hp easily. The never-ending German hp race.

M

GTA8.5

Direct- I for the 5.5liter V8, that will be insane.. I can`t wait to see those numbers.

I wonder will the AMG M156 V8 receive this treatment because the hp gap wil be closing.

Merc1

Oh I'm sure. The the AMG V8 is cut down to 6.0L and turbocharged for 2010, I'm sure direct-injection will be part of the plan.

M

GTA8.5

Lets discuss the M157 Bi-Turbo in this thread. I made a reply to your post Merc1. ---> http://www.germancarzone.com/mercede...urbo-v8-9.html

GTA8.5

Wow, this does look like what under the camo doesnt it!

The design of the grill is not that much different than the new Honda Civic.
I don`t like this F/L, or should I say what I see from this ps. It doesn`t match the sporty, quiet elegance of the SL body design. It`s way too fussy looking!

christian10022

Can someone please tell me what's wrong with the current SL?

The facelifted SL, in particular, the AMG models looks better than anything on the Mercedes-Benz lineup. And that's an accomplishment, seeing MB makes beautiful cars.

I was driving behind a black 2007 SL55 AMG, and I couldn't get over how beautiful it is even after all these years! Everybody was looking at it.

And I just looked at the SL sales, and it sells very good seeing the entry level is priced at $100,000. It outsells the new CL by 2x, and it sells as much as the much cheaper CLS. So should they facelift the CL and CLS too?

The only thing that needs to be redone is the electronics IMO. They should just put all the effort into making a totally NEW SL.

As much as I love my M5, I wish I got the SL55, but the SL is way to impractical for me.

GTA8.5

Well with good sales numbers like that whay would MB make such a radicle change to the SLs face.

Merc1

Well for one to bring it in line with the rest of the family style wise and secondly the sales numbers aren't all that great anymore, at least in the U.S.

M