[khanak]

Today, Mercedes-Benz officially released details regarding the 2009 SL-class, photos of which escaped onto the web last week. In addition to its updated exterior styling, which you can see for yourself in the attached gallery, the hard-shell droptop adds a new entry model for Europe -- the 231-horsepower SL 280. On top of that, the SL 350 gains power (now 316 horses) while improving overall fuel economy. The other engines are carryovers -- the 388-horse V8 in the SL 500 and the monstrous 517-HP twin-turbo V12 in the SL 600. Both get a slight improvement in fuel economy, too. The flagship 600 is distinguishable from its lesser kin via unique 18" wheels and the matte-finish "gills" aft of the front wheel well.

Also new for the SL is MB's direct-steer system, which was introduced on the new SLK and also recently made its way into the warmed-over CLC. Improved lighting is standard and the optional Intelligent Light System offers drivers five different light settings to handle varying road conditions. Inside, the usual raft of luxury and techno-baubles are in place, and we particularly like the SL's re-engineered AIRSCARF neck heaters, which now have their motors and blowers built into the headrests, with nifty views of their fanseMercedes-Benz has scored a photo of that bad boy already, which is shown above. The SL will have its coming out party in Geneva this March.
visible from the rear. You can read all about the new SL in Mercedes' ridiculously verbose press release, which we've pasted after the jump. Absent from the discussion is the next SL 63 AMG, but our buddy Ashley at

Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils updated SL - Autoblog

[Nitin]

cheers: Looks like MB is on a roll.. The styling lines seem to be the same on all their new cars..but they all still look superb!
Nice alloys on the SL!

[1100D]

Thankfully the SLR derived nose has not been implemented. All I want to see now is an E without the twin lamps.

[Aditya]

Looks nice. The grille reminds me of the SL from the late 70s / early 80s. Headlights look a bit like the CLS's.
MB has started making some pretty good looking cars now - the CLS, the new C and now this.

[Nitin]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Looks nice. The grille reminds me of the SL from the late 70s / early 80s. Headlights look a bit like the CLS's.
MB has started making some pretty good looking cars now - the CLS, the new C and now this.

Typically,the 1968 SL300 or the 1959 SL190.

[khanak]

Originally Posted by Aditya

MB has started making some pretty good looking cars now - the CLS, the new C and now this.

Their new design theme is really aggressive. I guess they want to win back some of the younger buyers who opt for BMWs instead.

[zibby]

The interior of the car is nearly the same with new gadgets.
The V8 SL500 and V12 SL600 remain unchanged but the SL350 gains 43bhp to deliver 311bhp.
Personally i didn't like the new facelift in the start but now i think i am getting used to.

[Jayabusa]

This is idiotic! The sl is made to look like a sporty C-class Avantgarde convertible....the same C-class which is an entry level Mercedes-Benz!
I doubt if it's going to sell.

[islero]

Ugh. That grille looks horrid. I like the new lights though. Looks like Merc are trying too hard with this one.

[Jayabusa]

BTW has this design been finalised for production?

[khanak]

Originally Posted by Jayabusa

BTW has this design been finalised for production?

Yupp. Official pictures have been released showing the exact same car.

[ishotmydog]

love the hood. though didnt quite like the headlights and the big MB symbol on the front grille.

[supercars]

Well do not even think of comparing this car in design to the older SL. A real treat was the old design.

The BHP figure for all the engines seem cool especially the V12.

[Jayabusa]

Originally Posted by supercars

Well do not even think of comparing this car in design to the older SL. A real treat was the old design.

The BHP figure for all the engines seem cool especially the V12.

with you buddy...however the back is still similar to the earlier gen.
I don't see any reason for Mb to bring about such a drastic change in the design, since the earlier design hadn't aged. A few sober changes in the lines would have worked wonders. The success of the new C-class seems to have gone to Mb's head, what with similar designs on it's other cars.
Just kidding. I know it's the signature styling of their new range.

[narayan]

car looks wellproportioned like before
but headlights are a BIG let down. the CLS units look really cool. but from the pics MB seems to have mixed it all up...the lower protion is squarish and the top portion is curved..it just does not gel well at all...

the lines on the door panel looks very BMWish