2012 NAIAS: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
The SL roadster has been around a long time and the sixth generation that debuted today looks equipped to carry Mercedes’ flagship roadster banner long into the future. For starters the standard engine is now the superb 4.6-liter twin-turbo that produces 429 hp and a gargantuan 516 lb-ft of torque. Tasked with motivating an SL that is now 275 pounds lighter than the outgoing version (hooray!) SL drivers will be rewarded with a 0-60 mph run of only 4.5 seconds.
As a technology leader the SL gains the trick Magic Sky glass roof with adjustable transparency that debuted on baby brother SLK and a new windshield washer system creatively named Magic Vision Control that makes sure you won’t catch overspray when cleaning the windshield with the top down. If that’s not luxury we don’t know what is. Unfortunately the headlights on this model are anything but graceful and degrade an otherwise improved and SLS-inspired new design. The new SL hits dealers later this spring but pricing was not announced.
Photos by Jason Muxlow
