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The all-new 2013
Mercedes-Benz SL
Lightweight, athletic, luxurious
MONTVALE, NJ – The all-new 2013 SL continues a tradition
that began 60 years ago. For six decades the letters
"SL" have been synonymous with a blend of sport, style
and comfort – infused with groundbreaking innovation.
For the first time, the SL is being produced almost
entirely from aluminum and weighs as much as 308 pounds
less than its predecessor. Its highly rigid all-aluminum
bodyshell provides the basis for agile, sporty handling
that has been taken to an entirely new level, coupled
with outstanding bodyroll and ride characteristics. Even
better driving dynamics come courtesy of the new direct
injection engine, which is more powerful and economical
than the outgoing generation. Other new features include
the unique FrontBass system, which turns the luxury
sports car into a concert hall – with the top down or up
- and the highly efficient MAGIC VISION CONTROL. The
2013 SL550 will be available in U.S. showrooms this
spring.
Compared with its successful predecessor, the 2013
Mercedes-Benz SL offers considerably more comfort and
athletic character, setting new standards in the luxury
roadster class. This includes amazing everyday
usability, making the SL the most versatile of all
sports cars. In short, anyone talking about the new SL
is surely talking about the ultimate in passionate,
refined motoring.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management
of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "There are
around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of
models. But there is only a handful of automotive icons.
Our SL is one of them: It has class, it has style, it is
the ultimate in comfort and luxury. And it combines all
that with an incredibly sporty and dynamic character.
You would struggle to find a car that embodies Gottlieb
Daimler's aspiration more perfectly than our new SL -
the best or nothing."
Lighter and more rigid - sophisticated all-aluminum
bodyshell
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL takes the meaning of the
famous letters "SL" – sporty, lightweight – quite
literally. Weight reduction across the board is one of
the most outstanding design characteristics of the new
SL, as was the case for its namesake, the original SL of
1952 with its lightweight tubular frame. For the first
time, Mercedes-Benz has implemented an all-aluminum
bodyshell in a series-production model. Only very few
components are made from other materials. The designers
used even lighter magnesium for the cover panel behind
the fuel tank and roof. High-strength steel tubing is
integrated into the A-pillars for added safety.
The new aluminum bodyshell weighs around 242 pounds less
than it would using the steel technology of its
predecessor. "The effect is as if a large passenger has
stepped out of the car" says Dr. Thomas Rudlaff,
responsible for the aluminum bodyshell at Mercedes-Benz.
"The result is perceptible and measurable. Less weight
means improved performance and efficiency. In other
words, the driving pleasure increases and the
environmental impact decreases."
In terms of rigidity, safety and comfort, the aluminum
structure is superior to the previous model's steel
construction. One contributing factor is its intelligent
lightweight construction with components optimized for
their specific task. As a result, diverse processes are
used to make different kinds of aluminum depending on
component use. The parts are made by chill casting or
vacuum die casting, worked into extruded aluminum
sections or into aluminum panels of varying thickness.
The outcome - high rigidity and excellent safety
combined with low resonance and vibrations.
The new SL is even more comfortable and has more
assistance systems on-board than its predecessor,
sacrificing some of the weight saved through the
aluminum
bodyshell as a result. Nevertheless, the scales show
some astonishing readings - the 2013 SL550 weighs around
275 pounds less than its predecessor. This is due to a
host of other intelligent details that Mercedes-Benz has
also implemented in the new SL in addition to the
aluminum bodyshell.
Driving pleasure - powerful engine and agile suspension
Powerful acceleration, effortless at all speeds, nimble
on winding roads – the new SL delivers outstanding
driving pleasure. As well as a powerful engine, the
SL550 boasts a fine suspension that is both sporty and
comfortable, and also features intelligent lightweight
construction. The steering knuckles and suspension arms
on the front axle, for instance, are also made from
aluminum to reduce the unsprung masses. The same applies
to virtually all the suspension components on the rear
axle.
The new SL is available with two different suspension
systems - with the Agility Control Suspension as
standard equipment. The ABC (Active Body Control)
suspension system is available as an option.
Both suspension variants are combined with a new
electromechanical Direct-Steer system featuring
speed-sensitive power steering and a ratio that can be
varied in accordance with steering wheel angle. This
provides excellent directional stability and safety when
traveling at highway speeds, and adds to the SL's
agility. It also reduces the amount of steering effort
required when parking and maneuvering.
The new V8 in the SL550 develops 429 hp from its
displacement of 4663 cc, which is around 12 percent more
than its predecessor despite some 0.8 liters less
displacement. Fuel consumption has been reduced while at
the same time the torque has increased from 391 lb-ft to
516 lb-ft – a gain of 32 percent. The engine features an
ECO stop/start function as standard equipment, while the
7-Speed Driver-Adaptive automatic transmission has been
optimized for fuel consumption and comfort. The fuel
economy of the direct injection engine does not detract
in any way from the roadster's sporty character. Quite
the opposite in fact - the SL550 takes just 4.5 seconds
from 0 to 60 mph – eight tenths less than the previous
SL550.
Interior - aesthetic, stylish, sporty
The 2013 SL combines its finely honed profile with a
luxurious feel. Premium materials, perfectly finished
with great attention to detail define the style and
character of the interior.
Compared with its predecessor, the new-generation SL is
much longer (+1.97 inches) and wider (+2.24 inches),
providing more room for greater comfort in the interior,
too. Shoulder room (+1.46 inches) and elbow room (+1.10
inches) have been increased, exceeding the norm for this
class of vehicle. Clear lines create a coherent look &
feel in this comfortable interior. A generous sweep of
fine wood trim extends from the center console across
the dashboard into the doors, creating a pleasant
wrap-around effect. A choice of two wood trims is
available. Perfectly in tune with the roadster's
character, the interior combines the unpretentious
atmosphere of a high-performance sports car with the
comfortable, stylish ambience you might expect from a
luxurious touring car.
Design - classic SL proportions
The designers have brought the latest generation of the
SL to life with a firm foundation in tradition, but with
new perspectives and visions. The result is a stylishly
sporty and elegant luxury sports car with balanced
proportions that are classic SL. The long hood gives way
to a compact passenger compartment that is set well
back. A wide, powerful rear end with a strong racing
character provides the finishing touch. Just a few
carefully drawn lines define the powerfully sculpted,
yet calm surfaces along the flanks. Finely crafted
details, a striking rear end plus ventilation grilles
with chromed fins from the dynamic tradition of the
Mercedes- Benz heritage evoke the SL legend.
An upright classic sports car radiator grille clearly
identifies the new SL as a prestigious member of the
current Mercedes-Benz sports car lineup. The centrally
positioned star is a contemporary reinterpretation of
the famous trademark, and now extends into the center
section with its organically flowing contours.
Dynamically slanting headlamps set well to the outside
frame the striking front end and give the new roadster
its own unmistakable face. The Bi-xenon headlamps come
with active curve illumination and corner illuminating
lamps as a standard feature, as well as Adaptive
Highbeam Assist. With different lighting functions
tailored to typical driving and weather conditions and
activated in accordance with the driving situation, they
offer the driver a much better illuminated field of
vision. The striking sidelights and the horizontal line
of the daytime running lamps in the far ends of the
bumper feature LED technology.
Retractable hard top – with optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL
The sixth generation of the SL also offers a retractable
hard top that can be operated using a space-saving
electrohydraulic mechanism, converting the SL from coupe
to roadster and back again in a matter of seconds. In
contrast to its predecessor, the new SL offers two
versions of the retractable hard top – glass or the
unique panoramic roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. The
transparent roof switches between light and dark at the
push of a button. In the light setting it is virtually
transparent, offering an open-air experience even in
cold weather. In its dark state the roof provides
welcome shade and prevents the interior from heating up
in bright sunlight. The frame of both versions is made
from magnesium, reducing weight by around 13 pounds
compared with the outgoing model, lowering the vehicle's
center of gravity and delivering greater agility.
The engineers have refined the operating mechanism for
the roof and trunk lid. It now takes less than 20
seconds to open or close the roof completely.
Aerodynamics - new standards
The design of the new SL is not only aesthetically
beautiful, it also boasts outstanding aerodynamic
characteristics, giving the roadster top marks in its
segment in three crucial areas:
• the lowest wind noise, virtually on par with a closed
sedan;
• the best comfort during open-air driving, meaning the
roof can stay down even
at high speed;
• virtually no accumulation of dirt on the side windows.
Two world premieres - FrontBass and MAGIC VISION CONTROL
The 2013 SL remains true to its tradition as
technological trendsetter with two innovations:
• MAGIC VISION CONTROL is a new, intelligent and highly
efficient wipe/wash system. The innovative wiper blade
judiciously dispenses wash fluid just in front of the
wiper blade via channels integrated into the blade – in
both directions of travel. The result is no water splash
on the windshield to disrupt driver visibility and a
perfectly clean windshield. The water also stays on the
windshield, with no risk of overspray into the passenger
cabin when the roof is down. A fully heated wiper blade
is included as standard equipment, preventing the
build-up of snow and ice on the blade in winter. This
heating function also allows warm water to be applied
directly onto the windshield for the first time, even in
cold temperatures.
• Equally unique is the FrontBass system, which makes
intelligent use of the Page 7 spaces in the aluminum
structures forward of the footwell. These spaces
function as resonating chambers for the woofers and mark
the first time ever that a sound system has been
integrated into the body-in-white. As a result, the new
SL features clear, rich bass sounds that deliver a
concert hall ambience even with the top down. The new
layout has the added bonus of freeing up space in the
doors and interior.
Both innovations are part of the extensive standard
equipment of the new SL.
HANDS-FREE ACCESS - swipe to open
The HANDS-FREE ACCESS system is another Mercedes-Benz
innovation that provides easy, hands-free operation of
the trunk lid. The driver simply moves their foot in the
vicinity below the rear bumper. Mercedes-Benz is the
only car maker to offer a system that not only
automatically opens the trunk lid but closes it as well.
The safest roadster
The SL is the world's safest roadster, thanks to the
collision-optimized aluminum structure, standard
equipment that includes PRE-SAFE® and ATTENTION ASSIST,
plus further assistance systems on the same high level
as the S-Class. The rigid aluminum bodyshell forms a
sturdy passenger compartment along with precisely
defined deformation zones at the front and rear ends.
The passenger compartment is protected in the event of
the vehicle overturning by two roll-over bars and A-
pillars made from a mix of steel and aluminum. The
restraint systems including the two-stage driver and
front passenger airbags have been further developed,
while a head airbag covers the side impact area. An
additional thorax airbag in the seat backrest protects
the upper body in the event of a side impact. Another
new feature is the crash-responsive NECK-PRO head
restraints developed by Mercedes- Benz which are also
standard equipment in the SL.
One safety highlight in the standard equipment package
is the unrivalled anticipatory occupant protection
system PRE-SAFE® developed by Mercedes-Benz. If the
system detects the imminent threat of an accident, it
reflexively activates precautionary protective measures
for the vehicle occupants, ensuring that the seat belts
and airbags are able to provide maximum protection
during an impact.
Additional post-impact measures supplement the integral
safety concept and facilitate rapid assistance.
Regardless of the severity of the impact, the doors are
automatically unlocked after an accident, the interior
lighting is activated and the side windows lowered by 2
inches to ventilate the interior more effectively. The
steering wheel also moves upward.
Standard - ATTENTION ASSIST and ADAPTIVE BRAKE
A unique combination of driver assistance systems in the
new SL helps prevent accidents. These include the
drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST and the
ADAPTIVE BRAKE, both of which are standard equipment.
The latter features ABS, acceleration skid control (ASR)
and active yaw control, and offers comfort and
convenience functions in addition to safety features.
PRE-SAFE® Brake - autonomous partial and emergency
braking in response to the serious risk of a rear-end
collision
Optional equipment includes DISTRONIC PLUS adaptive
cruise control with PRE- SAFE® Brake, which is already
well proven in other Mercedes-Benz models. The systems
use radar sensors to detect the serious risk of a
rear-end collision. The PRE- SAFE® Brake warns the
driver and can initiate autonomous braking if the driver
fails to react, thus either preventing the accident or
at least mitigating its severity. PRE- SAFE® can also
activate occupant protection measures.
Active Parking Assist - automatically maneuvers into a
parking space
Active Parking Assist is new in the SL. Using ultrasound
sensors it can identify parking spaces and automatically
steer the vehicle into the selected space.
Infotainment - COMAND with internet access
COMAND with Internet access capabilities and DVD changer
is standard equipment in the new SL. It provides Web
browsing while the vehicle is stationary, along with
access to Mercedes-Benz Apps – such as Google Local
Search, Yelp and Facebook – with a paid subscription to
Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 in-vehicle connected services
after the complimentary trial period ends. There are
also the options to send individual routes to the
vehicle from Google Maps and destinations from iPhone®
and Android® phones using the Mercedes-Benz mbrace
Mobile App.
The COMAND system features a high-resolution 7-inch TFT
color display (800 x 480 pixels) next to the instrument
cluster. This screen arrangement helps to avoid driver
distraction.
The 2013 SL550 will be available in U.S. showrooms this
spring. |
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