 The Stuttgart-based brand The World's Safest Convertible |
50TH ANNIVERSARY MERCEDES-BENZ SL HONORS 300SL ROADSTER 2007 SL LINE FEATURES FRESHENED LOOK; SL550 MODEL GETS NEW ENGINEMONTVALE, NJ - To honor the first Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster, a 50th Anniversary Edition of the 2007-model SL550 roadster will be available this summer.
Redesigned Roadster for 2007 The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL roadster sports a more aggressively styled front air dam and a new front grille as well as clear-lens tail lights and chrome-trimmed fog lights. Inside, all SL models reveal re-designed door sills and revised interior materials throughout, including a new leather grain and upholstery colors. In the U.S. market, the well-known Mercedes-Benz hands-free phone system will now be standard (except for handset, cradle and local carrier), as well as Sirius satellite radio, with the first six months of service free. Bluetooth wireless capability is also optionally available for the phone system. New Engine Architecture Powers SL550 A new-generation four-valve-per-cylinder V8 powers the SL550 model, which replaces the SL500. First seen in the next-generation S-Class sedan, the 5.5-liter engine produces 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque, a power increase of more than 26 percent. More Power for High-Performance Models, Too The supercharged V8 that powers the high-performance SL55 AMG now has 510 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. of torque, a very noticeable three percent increase. The 2007-model SL55 AMG also comes with new carbon-fiber interior trim and redesigned 19-inch five-spoke AMG wheels shod with high-performance tires. While the twin-turbo V12 powering the exclusive SL600 gets a similar horsepower bump - to 510 - it now also has a monstrous 612 lb.-ft. of torque. A Wealth of Features for All Four SL Models The 2007 SL features a faster steering ratio for more responsive handling, and excellent stopping power for all four SL models is provided by large, four-wheel vented disc brakes enhanced with four-channel ABS anti-lock control. SL550 comes equipped with 13.8-inch front and 12.6-inch rear disks, while the SL600 and SL55 AMG both have 14.2-inch rotors with six-piston front calipers and 13.0-inch rotors with four-piston rear calipers. The SL65 AMG boasts discs that are yet another 1.2 inches in diameter. As on all other Mercedes-Benz models, Brake Assist can potentially reduce braking distances in emergency or "panic" stops. ABC Active Suspension Gives Cat-Like Agility The SL chassis uses a fully independent, double-control-arm front suspension and the patented Mercedes-Benz five-link rear suspension. All 2007 SL models come with second-generation Active Body Control (ABC), the Mercedes-Benz active-suspension technology that virtually eliminates body roll in cornering, squat under acceleration and dive during braking. On AMG models, the ABC system has been calibrated to account for the added performance potential of the car. Special AMG suspension struts with firmer damping and fully reworked systems such as ABS anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist, ASR traction control and ESP stability control complement the enhanced AMG chassis. Each SL model uses software programming specific to the model, akin to tuning the spring rates, shock damping and anti-roll bar stiffness of a conventional suspension. Mercedes-Benz engineers use ABC's interplay of hydraulic, electronic and mechanical parts to reduce body roll by 68 percent (compared to the same vehicle with a conventional suspension), and a 'Sport' switch on the center console can make it 95 percent reduced roll, along with tighter shock damping. Active suspension is designed to solve the usual tradeoff between ride comfort and handling precision: the SL roadsters exhibit excellent comfort while offering league-leading handling. Seven-Speed Automatic for the SL550 While the AMG and V12-powered models use a modified five-speed automatic transmission, the SL550 is one of several Mercedes models to feature the industry's first seven-speed automatic for passenger cars. The transmission improves acceleration and enhances fuel efficiency, while gear changes are barely noticeable, especially in the higher gears. The seven-speed shortens 0-to-60 mph time and allows significantly quicker acceleration for highway passing. Using seven gears allows individual gears to be spaced closer together while providing a larger overall spread between the lowest and highest gear. The seven-speed can skip a gear if necessary, switching from seventh gear straight down to fifth, for example, and even from sixth to second, skipping three gears at once. From Coupe to Roadster in 16 Seconds At the push of a button, the SL's retractable hardtop can be fully opened or closed in just 16 seconds. A clever folding design allows for a surprisingly large cargo area of 7.2 cubic feet when the top is down. With the top up and the newly detachable trunk separator removed, the trunk can hold 10.9 cubic feet of cargo. A hydraulic pump and 11 computer-controlled hydraulic cylinders power the system, and roof operation is controlled by a switch on the center console. The World's Safest Convertible Since an open car can leave its occupants vulnerable in a rollover, Mercedes-Benz met the challenge on the SL with the world's first automatic roll bar. Normally part of the interior's rear-compartment surround structure, the padded, leather-covered bar pops up in a third of a second if sensors detect an impending rollover. The driver can also raise and lower the bar intentionally by a switch on the console. The shoulder belts are integrated directly into the seats for greater occupant protection, especially in roll-overs. The Mercedes SL was the first car with door-mounted side airbags - part of the Supplemental Restraint System, which includes dual front airbags and emergency tensioning retractors that tighten the seat belts in a collision. The extraordinary Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can actually help prevent skids and slides. This breakthrough safety system helps drivers maintain directional stability, especially on slippery or gravel-covered roads, by preventing oversteer (rear-end "fishtailing") or understeer (front-end "plowing"). ESP can sense impending loss of control, at the front or rear end, and momentarily apply the brake on one wheel to restore stability, something that even a skilled driver cannot do. About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States. In 2005, MBUSA achieved an all-time sales record of 224,421 new vehicles, setting the highest sales volume ever in its history and achieving 12 consecutive years of sales growth.
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Identified by unique 18-inch
five-twin-spoke alloy wheels, a limited production run of 550 cars will come
in pewter metallic with an interior finished in exclusive Cognac Brown leather
and Black Ash wood trim, complete with "50th Edition" floor mats and an SL
accessory bag with a "50th Edition" luggage tag. The 50th Anniversary roadsters
will also include several standard features that are usually optional for
the SL - the Keyless Go system, active ventilated seats, Bi-Xenon headlights
with corner illuminating fog lights and a wood-leather steering wheel and
shift knob.