2009 Mercedes SL Debut: Page 3

[YSSMAN]

The next generation Mercedes SL was spied in testing in Europe earlier this year. The photos were taken by Christa Lehmann of Hidden Image and come to us courtesy of Rob Lieberson.

Mercedes has decided to let the current SL live for another couple of years before the updated model will reach the market. In order to change the looks, and keep good sales figures, the SL will get a major face-lift next year. As can be seen from the photos, test cars have been sighted in various places of the world in cold weather testing in Scandinavia as well as on dusty roads in the warm spring of southern Europe.


The biggest change will be the CLS-style headlamps to complement the new bumper and grille. Camouflage is hiding the modified taillight design and LED enhancements. Another feature that will arrive with the face-lift to the SL are air scarfs in the headrests, originally from the SLK.


Engines are likely to remain the same as in the current model, but rumors are indicating a turbocharged version of the 350 engine with 354 bhp may be added. The top of the line model will be the SL65 AMG with 612 bhp. More details on this vehicle are expected to arrive as the release draws near.

It appears as though they've managed to cross the CLS with the SL, and I'm for it (thus far). I still love the SL to death, and I'm looking forward to the next model. I'm sure they won't give us a manual transmission... But, alas, I'll survive...

 

[ND4SPD]

Gah, current SL looked a lot better than that photoshopped image.

 

[McLaren]

The spy shots don't look any different, but the photoshop doesn't suit the style at all.

 

[CDailey]

Yeah, the spy shots really don't seem too much different than the current gen. The hood does seem a little longer, though. I will disagree with the previous posters and say that I love the Photoshoped image.

 

[Eric.]

Ugh. I don't think I'm going to like this.

 

[V1P3R]

So... they got tired of the Merc look and decided lets just put CLS lights on and rip off Opel cars while were at it?

 

[JCE]

I hope to god they don't look like that photochop image.

 

[Gonz013]

Merc needs to get a little more adventurous

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm sure Mercedes will. Of course, without the burden of Chrysler these days, they'll probably go nutz on a few things. We'll have to see what happens, but with companies like Jaguar and Aston Martin staying distinctively classic in nature while companies like BMW and Audi move ever-closer to the future mobile, my best guess will be that Mercedes decides to split that decision, and combines it to the best of their ability... Somewhat clear from the prototype models we've seen thus far.

Sure, I'd rather see them do a retro-styled SL that recalled the best models from the 1950s and 1960s, but it won't happen...

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Damn, I hope it looks nothing like that. The current SL is such a nice-looking car though, like the last-gen CL, it'll be hard to top.

 

[Tornado]

Nooooooooooo! The current SL was such a design masterpiece that it was hard to believe it came from the same company that later designed that monstrocity of a CL class. Why Mercedes, why?

 

[land sea air]

As long as the design is better blended together than the rendering accompanying the article, then I'm all for it. I'm curious as to where a turbocharged 6 would fit into the line up though

 

[Robin]

Something tells me the car was just like a test mule and it will look NOTHING like that, why would merc (who make a hell of alot of money) be cheapskates and use most of the same paneling on the new car... its just not done on premium brands.....I was hoping the new SL would look like the 80's route merc is going at the moment (everything bulky and square like the c-class) and if that it the real SL's design they have truly designed a horrible looking car!

 

[Philly]

The model is in for a mid-cycle face lift. This is not the next-gen SL. Is it just me, or does that face look like it's something out of France?

I think I'll stick with the current SL.

 

[YSSMAN]

The official debut...

I like it, but the rear didn't get as much of an update as I would have hoped for... Oh well, its still one of the best GT cars you can buy...

 

[Robin]

They could have made a bit more effort with the rear...

Robin

 

[Alex.]

A huge step down looks wise. I think they could have gone for more of a CL headlamp look.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

It looks better than that old PS image... but the original W230 is still better looking.

Hopefully this hits resale values pretty hard, though

 

[JCE]

The grille might take some getting used to...but the SL is still my favorite Merc model. Mercedes just can't "unsexify" it enough for me no to love it.

 

[McLaren]

Bonnet needs to be seen in different photos and from different angles, for me.

 

[YSSMAN]

The grille almost makes the car look smaller to me... The first time I saw it I said "What did they do to the SLK now?"

 

[Giancarlo]

That car doesn't make any sense. The front is full of straight, sharp lines - and the rear is full of sensual curves.

Looks like a normal SL that got into some head-on collision and was then fixed by a really crappy body shop.

 

[Omnis]

Wow, I can't get over how ugly that front end is.

We thought Bangle was bad...

 

[TopHat]

They should've either left it alone, or completely redesigned it. Way to half-ass it MB.

 

[land sea air]

So is this still considered the R230 or what? it doesn't look like much of a refresh to me

 

[Bram Turismo]

The official debut...

I like it, but the rear didn't get as much of an update as I would have hoped for... Oh well, its still one of the best GT cars you can buy...

Might I say "Holy crap "?

Wow, just wow...the older SL's were my favourit Mercs, so it doesn't matter for me how the rear looks, the only thing that isn't right about it is that line running over the whole bumper between the exhausts and the rear lights, it makes the rear bumper having a rather weird looking shape.

But the front, yikes! 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

I do very much like that!

 

[Philly]

I like it, but the rear didn't get as much of an update as I would have hoped for... Oh well, its still one of the best GT cars you can buy...

I'm glad they didn't do much to the rear. I absolutely love the rear:tup:.

The front isn't so great. I think they have too much going on. The grille/lights combo just doesn't do it for me. Hopefully it'll grow on me because I just love the SL.

 

[High-Test]

I like that! It's far better than that god-awful rendering. 👍

The shapes of the front scream "560SEC".

 

[Tornado]

Sweet christmas that is ugly. They could have at least tried to make the pieces of the front fit with each other (or with the rest of the car, for that matter).