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Posts with tag: SL

Secret sports car in the works

by Kharl Prado (RSS feed) May 29th, 2011 at 7:25 pm

We’ve heard that Mercedes-Benz has secretly been planning work on a front-engined sports car to sit on a spot below the SLS AMG. The secret car will similarly be powered by a V8 engine and now stands to earn plans for development and production after being christened an official codename.

With its price to be pegged at around £75,000, the new sports car is scheduled to be launched around three years from now in 2014. Its platform will likely be based on both Mercedes-Benz’s passenger cars and, of course, those of the AMG performance division. AMG has even taken responsibility to take sole responsibility for the car’s engineering, development and testing. So yes folks, this will be an AMG pure bred.

Word from officials at Mercedes-Benz says the new sports car will be known as the SLC, a name that was last owned by a fixed-roof version of the 4^th generation SL back in 1971. However, the new SLC will have a completely different exterior and interior design. There’s even word that there will both be a coupe and roadster version down the road. But what’s really interesting is that Mercedes-Benz is planning to share mechanical and electrical components between the new SLC and the 7^th generation SL.

Source: Autocar

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Tags: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLC, AMG, future models, SL

Comment: 1

Upcoming SL To Feature Aluminum Structure

by Emmanuel (RSS feed) May 28th, 2011 at 12:50 am

Mercedes Benz 2351111255443561600x1060 597x395 Upcoming SL To Feature Aluminum Structure

Code-name the R231, Mercedes-Benz’s new SL has been reengineered from the ground up, mainly as part of a program to drastically reduce the sports car’s weight, and as an initial foray into a company-wide thrust to produce improved but lighter-weight models. The most radical departure from the current SL’s manufacturing process is replacing the high-strength steel body structure with that of aluminum. Using this lighter material and the improved processes afforded by aluminum, the upcoming SL and its variants reportedly weigh 200 kilograms lighter. This significant improvement in body weight does not incur any penalties in terms of added features, equipment and safety levels.

Hints of the car’s new styling are reflective of the lines introduced with the new SLK, although the new SL will basically retain the dimensions of the current model. Like the new SLK, Mercedes will also offer the optional Magic Sky Control introduced in the SLK. Engine range will start with a 300 horsepower V6 up to a biturbo V8 producing 430 horsepower. It is safe to expect an AMG variant some time after the launch of the SL, which is due next year.

Instead of Bremen, the new SL will be assembled at Mercedes’ main factory in Sindelfingen. This dovetails with the company’s move to upgrade Sindelfingen’s facilities to produce the majority of the company’s aluminum-based models.

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Tags: lightweight, SL

Comment: 1

SLK named as Germany’s Most Beautiful Car

by Kharl Prado (RSS feed) May 24th, 2011 at 7:50 am

It doesn’t come much as a surprise but rather a flattering affirmation that Mercedes-Benz is one of the most awarded premium vehicle manufacturers ever. The company’s latest in its long list of achievements is the awarding of AUTO BILD magazine’s Design Award to the Mercedes-Benz SLK. Following the tire tracks of the E-Class back in 2009 and the SLS AMG last year, the SLK makes the company proud by bagging the prize for 2011.

Almost 90,000 loyal readers of the popular AUTO BILD specialist magazine voted for Mercedes-Benz’s latest SLK roadster. Now, proudly sitting on top of its hood are bragging rights as Germany’s most beautiful car, a title the SLS AMG dutifully held the previous year upon shocking Mercedes-Benz fans everywhere of its supercar performance.

A big part of the SLK’s charm is its open-air configuration, allowing the driver and passenger to enjoy a higher level of driving and riding pleasure like never before. Despite its extremely stylish physique, the SLK is no pushover with its agility. Of course, no one can resist the SLK’s Magic Sky Control system which switches the hue of its panoramic vario-roof to light or dark with a simple touch of a button.

Needless to say, its all new 4- and 6-cylinder engines are a class above the rest, featuring ECO Start-Stop technology that brings fuel economy to an almost 25 percent improvement over the old model. It’s no question that the SLK is truly worthy of its new title.

Source: Daimler

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Tags: AUTO BILD Design Award, award, Germany's Most Beautiful Car, Magic Sky Control, SL, SLK

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Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz SL long overdue

by Muamer Hodzic (RSS feed) April 7th, 2011 at 11:53 pm

When Mercedes introduced the fifth generation Mercedes SL in 2002, it was a landmark release, offering the best of both worlds – a coupe mixed with a convertible, together with incredibly fierce performance in the SL55 model.

Eight years, however, is rather a long stint for a car and even though it was given a bit of a cosmetic update six years later, the SL managed to lose its footing as the flagship of the Mercedes range.

More powerful Merc vehicles, like the SLS, have overtaken the SL, leaving it further and further behind as the years have sped by. Even the SL’s younger brother, the SLK, is now in higher demand than its predecessor.

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Tags: SL

Comments: 3

Carlsson C25 Is Ultra-Exclusive Entrant To Tuner Game

by Emmanuel (RSS feed) March 3rd, 2011 at 5:31 pm

c25 597x397 Carlsson C25 Is Ultra Exclusive Entrant To Tuner Game

Well-known tuner Carlsson has debuted its C25 supercar at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show and before you pooh this tuner’s efforts, you should at least get to know the car better.

Company spokesman says that, “There are more than enough super sports car in this world which can only be safely driven on a race track. Therefore, we deliberately wanted to develop a car which is highly exclusive on the one hand and can be used for the daily journey to office on the other hand. Therefore, a Super-GT which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.7 seconds and still offers a very pleasant driving comfort. All security-relevant regulations such as pedestrian protection, crash behaviour, ESP, ABS, Airbag systems are identical to large series editions with most modern standards.”

The C25 is based on the Mercedes-Benz SL platform and drivetrain, with Stuttgart’s own 6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 massaged by Carlsson to produce 753 horsepower. Such an output propels the car to its Vmax of 352 km/h. A stainless steel exhaust system terminates with edged tailpipes.

The edginess extends to interior, where the steering wheel, seats and center console are treated to the same design theme. A combination of suede, buffalo leather and carbon fiber highlight other changes to the interior of the SL. As is common with aftermarket wheels sizes these days, 20-inch wheels on 265/30 and 325/25 tires ensure performance and stunning looks. Lest you further pooh Carlsson’s attempts, know that Carlsson intends to build and sell only one C25 per country. Is that exclusive enough for you?