April 4, 2003

• A dream car sporting a peerless array of state-of-the-art driving dynamics systems
• Sensotronic Brake Control (SBCT) as standard
• Four model variants with six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder engines
• A roadster and coupé in one, thanks to the vario-roof

SL - rarely have two letters come together to such charismatic effect as in the model designation of the incomparable Mercedes Roadster. Originally intended as simply an abbreviation for the car's qualities as a "sporty" and "light" new model, the SL badge is now of much more than merely descriptive value to vast numbers of car aficionados across the generations. For five decades now, the SL name has served as a trademark for an unrivaled car-making tradition - the symbol of a living legend of the automotive world.

Like its predecessors, the current SL has set the standard and pointed the way to the future of the sports car. Although imbued with a whole host of typically Mercedes characteristics, the SL has consistently elevated one of these above all others: the dynamic sports-car experience.

What makes the new SL experience so unique is not just the high-performance engine under the bonnet, but more than anything the incorporation of the latest electronic chassis systems which no other series-produced car on the planet can offer in this combination. The SL-Class has built its awesome reputation on a record of setting new trends and charting the very summit of driving dynamics and active safety.

Last year Mercedes-Benz delivered a total of over 31,000 units of the SL sports car to customers in every corner of the Earth. The largest sales markets were the USA and Germany.

SBCT brakes, Active Body Control and ESP® working as a team

The stream of innovations in the new SL is headed by the electrohydraulic braking system Sensotronic Brake Control (SBCT), which made its series-production debut in the SL-Class after more than five years under development. By calculating braking force precisely for each wheel according to the situation in hand, SBCT offers even greater active safety than conventional braking systems through corners, on wet road surfaces and in emergency situations. The new system works in tandem with the Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension system, which Mercedes-Benz is again the only car manufacturer to offer, and the proven Electronic Stability Program ESP® to create a peerless package of high-performance electronic control systems for the SL-Class.

Twice the SL experience with one vario-roof

Equally as extraordinary is the newly developed vario-roof, which allows the driver to convert his or her Roadster into a coupé - or vice-versa - at the touch of a button and in as little as 16 seconds. When the open-top driving pleasure can begin now depends only on the mood of the driver and the whim of the weather. The vario-roof is the conclusive factor in establishing the SL-Class as the ultimate driving experience, combining the fun factor of a roadster with the comfort of a Mercedes Coupé. These are virtues which elevate the Mercedes-Benz to a level above its predecessors - and, more than anything, to a different plane from its competitors in the premium sports car segment. A glass variant of the vario-roof is available as an option, ensuring the roadster's trademark sensation of freedom and - thanks to its large glass surface area - allowing natural light to flood into the interior even when the roof is closed.

A stylish blend of tradition and progression

The car's body lines symbolize the leading technological status of the SL-Class, whilst at the same time sparking a thirst, spirit and passion for open-top motoring. Subtle, yet highly effective, the current SL design incorporates many features lifted from the model series' founding father of 1954, and thus continues the proud tradition nurtured by its predecessors. These evocative SL hallmarks blend in with new elements of Mercedes' design philosophy which point the way to the future of the Roadster. These include the twin-headlamp face, newly interpreted to particularly dynamic effect for the front end of the SL. Leading-edge clear-glass styling adds an extra flair to the headlamps and ensures a highly distinctive light design.

High-tech engines with output of up to 368 kW/500 hp

In addition to its innovative driving dynamics systems, a further guarantee for that dynamic sports car experience comes in the form of the powerful six-, eight-, and twelve-cylinder engines available for the SL-Class:

The SL 350 is fitted with a state-of-the-art 180-kW/245-hp V6 engine, which develops maximum torque of 350 newton metres at 3000 rpm and thus provides the perfect springboard for impressive acceleration and powerful intermediate sprints. The new SL 350 bolts from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Mercedes-Benz hooks the V6 powerplant up as standard with the SEQUENTRONIC automated six-speed manual transmission, which the SL 350 driver can operate using the steering-wheel-mounted gearshift system familiar from racing cars: two rocker switches on the reverse side of the steering-wheel spokes allow particularly fast gearchange at the touch of a button. SEQUENTRONIC also features two shift programs (comfort and sport), with which the driver can adapt the transmission characteristics to his or her personal driving style. There is also an auto-shift mode for use in stop-start traffic, where SEQUENTRONIC changes gear automatically. The electronically-controlled five-speed automatic transmission with Touchshift can be ordered as an option.

The eight-cylinder power unit at the heart of the SL 500 produces 225 kW/306 hp and 460 newton metres of torque from its five-litre displacement, making it one of the most powerful engines in this vehicle class and accelerating the new SL 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds.

Power, luxury and smoothness are the three most prominent hallmarks of the SL 600, which serves up a rich feast of technical wizardry in the form of its V12 bi-turbo engine. Mercedes-Benz is the world's largest manufacturer of V12 engines for passenger cars and the newly developed unit reflects the Stuttgart-based car maker's many years of experience and extensive expertise in the development of this kind of high-tech powerplant. Equipped with two turbochargers, water-cooled intercoolers, three-valve technology, alternating-current dual ignition and a host of other innovations, the twelve-cylinder engine is one of the world's most modern passenger car engines. And one of the most powerful in its class, as well, developing 368 kW/500 hp and 800 newton metres of torque, which is available to the driver as low down as 1800 rpm and remains constant up to 3600 rpm. The result is majestic performance in any driving situation. The SL 600 needs only 4.7 seconds to power from 0 to 100 km/h and surges on from 60 to 120 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Maximum speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

Mercedes-Benz has added another high-performance model to the SL-Class range in the shape of the SL 55 AMG. Its vital statistics include output of 368 kW/500 hp, 700 newton metres of torque and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4.7 seconds. A decisive factor in the power development of the eight-cylinder AMG incarnation is a newly developed mechanical supercharger, which boosts charge pressure by 30 percent when measured alongside comparable mechanical charge systems. Rotating at a speed of around 23,000 rpm, the supercharger's aluminum rotors press some 1850 kilograms of air per hour into the combustion chambers.

In addition, this high-performance sports car is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission complete with SPEEDSHIFT function, which can also be operated by means of the special AMG steering-wheel-mounted gearshift familiar from racing cars. When the "manual driving program" is activated, sporty drivers can flick through the five gears at lightning speed using the rocker switches on the reverse side of the upper steering wheel spokes.

Head-thorax sidebags for the ultimate in side-impact protection

With its integrated concept, the SL-Class is seen as the template for a new generation of sports cars in terms of vehicle safety. This concept covers all bases of car safety - from accident avoidance by means of electronic driving dynamics systems such as SBCT, ABC, Brake Assist and ESP® , to the structural safety of the body and the fastest possible rescue of the vehicle occupants after an accident has occurred.

Occupant protection is optimized by a range of features, including a high-strength body structure, two-stage airbags for the driver and passenger, large head- thorax sidebags in the doors, newly developed integral seats, high-performance belt tensioners, belt force limiters and the sensor-controlled roll-over bar.

Innovative systems and unrivaled exclusiveness come as standard

The comprehensive level of standard equipment in the SL-Class meets the requirements of discerning drivers, who value technical perfection, comfort and exclusiveness extremely highly. Automatic climate control, xenon headlamps (SL 600: bi-xenon), leather-covered integral seats, a multifunction steering wheel, stereo radio, memory function for the electrically adjustable seats and many other high-class details are included as standard on board the eight- and twelve-cylinder models. Innovative assistant systems such as DISTRONIC proximity control, the TELEAID automatic emergency call system, the control and display system COMAND (standard in the SL 600) and the electronic tire pressure monitor can be ordered from Mercedes-Benz as an option.