New Mercedes SL roadster revealed with cheaper entry price
Details and photos of Mercedes’ revised SL roadster range have been leaked ahead of the car’s planned unveiling on 31 January.
Official pictures circulating on the internet reveal a number of cosmetic styling tweaks, though the big news is that a cheaper entry-level version of the roadster, with a smaller V6 engine, may make its way to Australia.
The SL280 model would sit below the current SL350, which costs $219,000.
Mercedes-Benz spokesperson Peter Fadeyev refused to confirm any details of the SL release, other than to say the Australian operation would look at a cheaper SL model “if it was something that customers asked for”.
The SL280 model would be powered by the revised 3.0-litre engine introduced on the C-Class sedan last year. That engine puts out 170kW of power and 300Nm of torque and is rumoured to complete the 0-100kmh run in less than 8.0 seconds.
The new SL350 meanwhile will have the same revised 3.5-litre V6 as the SLK350, which was revealed at the 2008 Detroit motor show.
The bigger V6 is not yet available in Australia, as the current C-Class sedan range does not include a 3.5-litre V6 model.
The 3.5-litre engine puts out 224kW at 6500rpm, up 24kW from the previous engine. Torque is up 10Nm to 360Nm.
To eke out more power from the engine, Mercedes engineers have raised the rev limit, increased the compression ratio, fitted a new intake manifold and modified the valve gear. The exhaust note has also been retuned for a sportier sound, while the engine management system now blips the throttle on downshifts in the seven-speed automatic transmission.
Fuel consumption in the manual version has been cut to 9.5 litres per 100km, 1.1L/100km less than its predecessor. The auto uses 9.2L/100km, almost a litre per 100km less than the previous version.
Both the SL and SLK will get a new variable ratio, speed sensitive steering system in an attempt to give them a sportier feel.
Visually, the biggest change to the SL is the car’s front end, which picks up the updated styling language introduced on the C-Class sedan, as well as some sporty retro cues that hark back to classic SL Roadster models.
Both the SL and SLK interiors also have been re-modelled, with new audio and telematics technology.
Fadeyev says the SL and SLK should arrive down under in the second half of this year, possibly July. The SL will be officially unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March0.
source:smh
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