Autoblog

Finding the ideal luxury sports car is a Goldilocks proposition: cars that fulfill either descriptive – luxury or sports – are piled high as Annapurna. For instance, the Ferrari F430 is a luxurious sports car, but it's not a luxury car. The current CL63 is a sporty luxury car, but it's not a sports car. Try to find a conveyance in which the little girl with the golden locks would sigh "This one is just right" – a car that has the sporting reflexes to keep her heart beating and a cabin supple enough for her to unwind in when the twisties are finished – and you see the field is disturbingly minuscule. Against all odds, the SL63 is that car: Goldilocks' Golden Mean. Follow the jump to find out how and why, and check out the gallery of high-res images below.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.

click above for more high-res images of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL

Today, Mercedes-Benz officially released details regarding the 2009 SL-class, photos of which escaped onto the web last week. In addition to its updated exterior styling, which you can see for yourself in the attached gallery, the hard-shell droptop adds a new entry model for Europe -- the 231-horsepower SL 280. On top of that, the SL 350 gains power (now 316 horses) while improving overall fuel economy. The other engines are carryovers -- the 388-horse V8 in the SL 500 and the monstrous 517-HP twin-turbo V12 in the SL 600. Both get a slight improvement in fuel economy, too. The flagship 600 is distinguishable from its lesser kin via unique 18" wheels and the matte-finish "gills" aft of the front wheel well.

Also new for the SL is MB's direct-steer system, which was introduced on the new SLK and also recently made its way into the warmed-over CLC. Improved lighting is standard and the optional Intelligent Light System offers drivers five different light settings to handle varying road conditions. Inside, the usual raft of luxury and techno-baubles are in place, and we particularly like the SL's re-engineered AIRSCARF neck heaters, which now have their motors and blowers built into the headrests, with nifty views of their fans visible from the rear. You can read all about the new SL in Mercedes' ridiculously verbose press release, which we've pasted after the jump. Absent from the discussion is the next SL-class AMG missile, but our buddy Ashley at eMercedes-Benz has scored a photo of that bad boy already, which is shown above. The SL will have its coming out party in Geneva this March.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

click above for 34 more high-res pics of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL

We don't know who is to blame for leaking these scrumdidlyumptious images of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL, but we're glad they did. These 34 high-res images give us a sneak peek at what Mercedes has in store for its hard-top convertible, which includes among other things an entirely new front end. The new face on the SL incorporates headlights with a more modern shape. The new eyes flank a grille with just one crossbar that's punctuated by s solid medallion bearing the iconic three-pointed star logo. New fender vents have also been added, the design of which has been aped from the more hyperbolic vents found on the McLaren SLR, but we actually like these understated gills more. A new rear apron can also be seen out back where the SL's buttocks has been freshened, as well.

Inside we see the new three-spoke steering wheel and white gauges that Mercedes showed us in the updated CLS last week. The center console has also been updated and an oversized screen for the nav system sits front and center. We also noticed something strange on the back of the headrests: a pair of fans appear to be embedded in each. What are they for, extra thrust? We don't know and likely won't until Mercedes releases official information on the new SL.

Since these 34 images didn't come packaged with an official press release, we can't tell you what's new under the skin of the SL, either. We can say that the SL55 AMG model is due to be replaced by the SL63 bearing the brand's monster 500+ hp, 6.3L V8. There also seems to be a new V6 of some sort in the works based on the number of pics referencing such a motor in the gallery below. We'll have more information once Mercedes gets officially official about the new SL, but until then enjoy the prerelease pics.

UPDATE: At least one new V6 engine in the SL range is probably the 3.0L V6 that debuted in the new CLS 280 with 231 HP and 221 ft.-lb. of torque, which should provide the big 'vert with decent performance and above average fuel economy.

[Source: autozeitung.de]

click above image to view high-res pics of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class sports package

Mercedes-Benz has announced a new sports package for those people considering an SL-Class who want a bit extra flair with their expensive set of wheels. As a matter of fact, the visual punch added by the sports package focuses on a new set of 19-inch, twin-spoke wheels that offer a fairly unencumbered view of the silver-painted front brake calipers and cross-drilled rotors in the rear. A set of dark-tinted taillights rounds out the only exterior mods. Inside the car receives silver-colored contrast stitching, new aluminum trim and a roof liner trimmed in black fabric. A new air filter purportedly enriches the sound of the SL 350, while the 7G-TRONIC paddle-shifted automatic makes gear changes a snappy affair in either the SL 350 or SL 500, the only models for which this new sports package is available. The cost is an extra € 2,975 (incl. VAT).

Check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]