Auto Blitz: Mercedes SL

Showing posts with label Mercedes SL. Show all posts

Speed Ticket Survey: Mercedes-Benz SL and Toyota Solara Drivers Top the List

We recently told you about how the angriest drivers in Britain tend to be behind the wheel of a BMW. Now we have some speeding/insurance info from the States, and it's a bit surprising.

According to Quality Planning, a division of Verisk Analytics Inc., American Mercedes SL drivers are at least four times more likely to get ticketed than a run-of-the-mill motorist who presumably drives a Camry Solara or...no, wait, the Camry Solara/Coupe and Scion tC come in at second and third.

Oddly, the Pontiac Grand Prix is still on the list and making waves (scroll down for the full list with stats).

The next-gen Mercedes SL63 AMG has officially been caught testing, aaaaaaaannnd...there it is. Much like the SLS and recently-revealed CLS, the front end of Merc's new hardtop roadster will sport a more in-your-grille fascia (punny, I know). It's so blunt and brutish, I'd say the German firm's stylists could have been helping Dodge with the 2011 Charger.

The crew from Inden Design have launched a new (and very expensive) widebody treatment along with some performance upgrades for the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG hardtop roadster.

According to the tuner, the basic wide body kit is priced at €19,000, but to complete the look you'll have to dig out another €3,500 for the bonnet, €800 for the rear diffuser in carbon fiber and €999 for the front apron. And oh, did we mention that the assembly of the kit costs €8,000 and the lacquer finish an extra €7,500? Add them all up and you're already in €38,800.

The latest big Benz to come out of the Brabus garage is here - the new SL65 Black Series-based T65 RS, and it's screaming one thing: "That E V12 Coupe in Geneva was a sissy!"

Instead of the standard SL65 AMG Black Series' 670HP biturbo-V12, it gets the same modded 800-horsepower, 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft) twin-turbo Brabus V12 under the hood. Between the engine and that new hood scoop are four intercoolers while the car also gets a new stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with free-flow metal catalysts.

Our spy photographers have snagged the next generation of Mercedes-Benz's SL roadster, which is due to arrive in 2012. As you can see in the pictures, Mercedes-Benz obviously will continue with the front-engine, rear-drive format, as well as with a retractable metal hardtop.

The prototype model's heavy disguise and body cladding makes it difficult to distinguish any details, but it's safe to assume that the new SL will carry styling hallmarks from the German firm's "artsy" design language previewed in its most recent concept models such as the CLS Shooting Break and the F800 Style.

The closer we get to the 2010 Geneva Salon in March, the more automakers reveal their plans for one of the most important car shows of the year. Carlsson, the well-known Mercedes-Benz specialist, announced today that it will shake the covers off the C25, which it describes as the company's "first own-developed automobile".

And by that, Carlsson actually means that it has created its own limited run super-car using a whole lot of bits and pieces from Mercedes-Benz' parts bin.

Even though the tuner did not say which model the C25 coupe is based on, judging by the teaser sketches and the fact that it is powered by a 6.0-liter bi-turbo V12 engine, our first guess goes to the Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG.

Nevertheless, the drawings suggest that the C25 will have its own unique styling personality while the tuner claims that the same goes for the new interior that receives a generous use of real carbon, tanned buffalo leather and ultra-suede in special colors.

Underneath the sheetmetal, it's all about tuning Mercedes-Benz' running gear. Power comes from a tweaked 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine that cranks out 753-horsepower and a mouth dropping 1,320Nm or 974 lb-ft (!) of peak torque that's available at 3,750 rpm.

With that kind of power, it's no surprise that Carlsson announces a 0-100km/h (62mph) time of just 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 353 km/h or 219mph.

The completely street-legal C25 also gets ESP, ABS, airbag systems, an intelligent lowering C-Tronic SUSPENSION, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels shod in 265/30 tires at the front and 325/25 at the back as well as 405mm slotted race brake discs at the front and 380mm race brake discs at the rear.

Carlsson said that it will produce only 25 examples of the car delivering only one automobile per country. More details and pricing are to be announced at the C25's world premiere at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz Launches SL Night Edition and SLK Grand Edition Specials

Two new special edition roadster models have been added to Mercedes-Benz's European range. Both the SL Night Edition and SLK Grand Edition gain numerous interior and exterior features, and are available for order now.

Starting with the SL Night Edition, Merc's flagship hardtop roadster is finished in an exclusive designo magno night black paint and features 19-inch AMG five-spoke light-alloy wheels in a two-tone, high-gloss finish, silver-painted front brake callipers with the Mercedes-Benz logo and darkened headlamps/tail lights.

Inside, the SL's cabin is dressed in black nappa leather and shining chrome trim while the seats also have arrow-shaped seams and silver-colored contrasting features. Finally, the sports steering wheel, shift lever and roof lining are in black.

Moving onto the SLK Grand Edition, the compact roadster is distinguished on the outside by the designo graphite paint finish, 18-inch light-alloy wheels with five triple spokes, silver-coloured fins on the bonnet and darkened headlamps.

Interior highlights include the standard AIRSCARF system, the new seats that are upholstered in basalt grey nappy leather, with red stitching and arrow-shaped seams. Basalt grey nappa leather is also used for the door linings and is contrasted by the designo pearl leather armrests.

Depending on the engine variant, the additional cost for the special models is between 3700 and 5200 Euro for the SL Night Edition and between 2300 and 3500 Euro for the SLK Grand Edition.

In typical Mercedes-Benz style, the special paint finishes will cost you an additional 3640 Euro for designo magno night black and 1800 Euro for designo graphite.

Inden Design Styles-up Mercedes-Benz SL500 into SL65 AMG

We not sure if you'd be better off just buying a used pre-facelift SL65 AMG and get the whole package, but if you already own the SL500 of the same series and you insist on spicing up your car with an AMG bodykit plus a few more upgrades here and there, then Inden Design will happily do the job for you. The German firm's exterior package comprises of a full SL65 AMG bodykit with a front bumper and spoiler, rear bumper with a carbon fiber diffuser, side skirts, rear spoiler as well as rear lights.

Furthermore, the door handles, mudguards and front grille also painted black while the 20-inch alloy wheels in the same shade wrapped in 255/30 rubber up front and 305/25 at the back sum up the exterior mods.

The interior package includes carbon fiber decorative trim and an SL65 AMG Black Series flat-bottom steering wheel.

Finally, Inden Design also offers a suspension module that can adjust the ride height up to about 50mm, a sport exhaust system and an engine kit that raises output to 330HP or 282HP less than the standard 2007' SL65 AMG...

Modification costs:

- SL 65 AMG Bodykit incl. varnishing and installation 5,498.00 euros

- SL 65 rear lights AMG incl. installation 548.00 euros

- The third brake light from facelift in white 119.00 euros

- Black Series steering wheel 1,059.00 euros

- Clavier varnish black decorative features 950.00 euro

- Pure carbon interior 1,998.00 euros

- Adjustable sport suspension module 1,398.00 euros, installation 250.00 euros

- Inden Champion wheel set 10.5 and 11,75x20 with 255/30 and 305 / 25R 20 (star black, high-grade steel and polished rim base) 11,700.00 euros

- Body works necessary for the wheel set 2,200.00 euros

- Stainless steel exhaust system with the '65th' exhaust pipe 2,498.00 euros

- Pure carbon rear diffuser 1,448.00 euros