Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the BRABUS SL

"BRABUS" might as well be German for, "Hey, why not?" This would seem to be the question its engineers ask themselves before they stuff ludicrous amounts of power under the hoods of Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks. This behavior is well-documented, and it continues unabated with the arrival of MB's new SL. Full wheel/tire, interior, and styling packages are a given. Backing up those enhanced looks is an assortment of tuning packages capable of providing more power than even Montgomery Scott could ever plead for.

The SV12 S Biturbo engine swap appears to have been created by someone with a severe, pathological hatred for tires. This is the same engine used in the Brabus Bullit, and it dishes out a predictably ridiculous 720 horsepower and 973 lb-ft of torque. The latter number is electronically restrained to a mere 811 lb-ft., and a top speed of well over 200 mph comes with the territory. Not interested in the full swap? No worries, BRABUS has your back. SL 65 AMG drivers can opt for the T 65 S package, which bumps the stock V12 Biturbo to 705 hp/811 lb-ft. There's a solution for the all-motor SL 63 AMG as well that packs on an additional 40 horses over stock. This pattern continues right on down the line -- even the "lowly" V6-powered cars can be tuned to deliver 327 hp/ 310 lb-ft. Bonkers. Er, BRABUS, rather.


[Source: BRABUS]

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]

Automobile Magazine lends a little credibility to last week's Autobild news that another BMW Z8 is on its way. The former claims that business plans for a Z10, which would be on par with the likes of the (too) low-volume Mercedes SLR McLaren, and a Z6, which BMW figured was too close to the new Z4, were scrapped in favor of a successor to the car that BMW dropped in 2003 (pictured).

But going back to the drawing board isn't such a bad thing. Like Autobild, Automobile says that the new Z8 will likely get BMW's 408 hp 4.4L turbo, 300 hp 3.0L turbo six cylinder, or the 500 hp 5.0L V10... but, the magazine says, it's not going to hit SL600 territory without the V-12. Sounds like fun to us, but the $100,000 to $125,000 price tag might be a little steep.

[Source: Automobile Magazine; Sfondideldesktop.com]