New 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL, Pictures Leaked

So one of my favorite cars has always been the Mercedes-Benz SL Class. It offers pretty much the perfect combination of style, sport, and luxury. With models ranging from the “homely” SL550 with its 5.5 litre V8 engine offering 382 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque to the monster that is the Sl65 AMG with a twin-turbo 6.0 litre V12, 604 horsepower and an earth-moving 738 lb-ft of torque, the hardtop roadster has always provided the pinnacle of Mercedes sport and luxury at any price (as long as it’s more than $100,000). Well, Mercedes-Benz felt the current SL(pictured immediately after the jump) was getting a little raggedy-looking so in the midst of a mid-life crisis they took it under the knife to get a little work done. The changes and pics after the break.

So visually comparing the pictures the most noticeable difference lies in the front end. The new car has revised headlights which have gone from the interlocking circles to resembling those of the swoopy CLS 4-door coupe, which I like to call hockey stick lights. These flank a new grille which now has only one crossbar framing the instantly recognizable three-pointed star Mercedes-Benz logo. There are also new side vents just aft of the front fenders aping those of the even higher-end SLR McLaren, but miniaturized. Deutschland’s finest also saw fit to modify the rear, giving the car a new rear diffuser and dual trapezoidal exhaust tips.

Inside, they’ve refreshed the interior with a new steering wheel and gauge cluster, center console, and larger nav system. The car still features everything everything expected of a high-end luxury cruiser, with enough wood to build a house and leather from enough cows to feed Argentina. However, there’s still one mystery introduced by the pictures. The back of the headrests appear to have fans in them… The purpose of which has not yet been revealed as these pictures were all leaked.

We’ll find out everything when the official unveiling happens. On first impression the car is fairly underwhelming. The front end might be new, but I think the headlights on the older one looked better. Other than that, however, it’s simply a mild refresh so the shape overall remains the same as well as the dimensions. In terms of what is powering it, however, at least one new engine is expected: the new 231 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque V6. Due to increasing concerns over fuel economy this new engine should give it some performance while offering slightly better fuel economy for the base-level trim. Don’t fret though as the more traditional models will surely pack the same punch as always. The refreshed SL65 AMG has not yet been unveiled but will definitely be covered as soon as we receive word of it. Overall, it’s a decent redesign to help the roadster stay relevant another couple of years before it is redesigned completely.

Written on January 27, 2008 in Automobiles by Quan Vo. TrackBack URI.