Mercedes SL at the Detroit Auto Show

Return to ease

The new Mercedes SL debuted at the Detroit Motor Show. The two-seater roadster tradition writes consistently, treading with its all-aluminum chassis, but all new weight paths.

He will set new standards, the new Mercedes SL – in terms of comfort and sportiness. Especially the latter demanded, however, after a substantial diet, had the previous generations over time, but accumulated much love handles.

The foundation for his short weight of up to 140 kilograms lighter than its predecessor, the new Mercedes SL, acting by its chassis from aluminum, which gained in strength, however, clearly should have. And although the new SL has increased in length and in width by 50 by 57 millimeters. Also made ​​of aluminum doors and bonnet. The trunk lid is made ​​of a plastic Stahlmix. Aluminum dominates the material used in the chassis, which reduces unsprung weight and increases comfort. Alternatively, the new Mercedes SL continues with semi-active dampers or with the active ABC suspension.

Mercedes SL with two engines to start

Perform under the bonnet of the Mercedes SL is a new 4.7-liter V8 with 435 hp and 700 Nm in the SL 500 and a 3.5-liter V6 with 306 hp and 370 Nm in the SL 350 in service. In both cases, manages an automatic seven gears, a start-stop system, curbing consumption. The SL 350 is able to make do with 6.8 liters on average. However, it goes ahead dynamically. In 5.9 seconds, the six-cylinder engine sprints to 100 km / h mark, the V8 takes just 4.6 seconds. Top speed is in unison at 250 km / h. Are already in the pipeline also the remake of the SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG. The design of the new Mercedes SL offers few surprises as the front leans heavily on the smaller SLK, must go through the tail as a step in the evolution of its predecessor.