Has anyone heard when the new facelift will appear on the W221's? I was thinking ordering a 2009 S65, but I don't want to if they are giving it a lift in 2010....

facelifts have little impact on the appearance of sport pkg / AMG models. You will be hard pressed to tell the difference between a CLS 55, 63 and the 09 facelifted models, unless you really look close. Most MB facelifts occur in the 4th year of a model run, so 2010 is a good bet

usually it isnt much what they do to the facelift. At least what I have seen in the previous models and previous years.

Perhaps real unknowns are what motor/gearbox the top-line S/CL will have in CY09....

Will SL Black (supposedly arriving ?Fall08) have a 650hp+ motor as rumors (see car magazine uk online) indicate? Presumably MCT box was developed for SL Blk....so can this box handle 700lb-ft+ tq? Is SL Blk motor a new AMG V12 motor?? Or a turbo'd 63?? Isn't new head of AMG engine development (who led 63 development and previously led CarreraGT engine engineering team) known to not favor artificially aspirated motors??

Intriguing times at AMG....gotta love innovation....

I can't wait to enjoy your upcoming SL in a vicarious manner If you do get that beast, please be the first to post pix. Have you ordered it yet?

Ordered SL63 030...Apr build....and my dealer knows I will trade-in SL63 030 for SL Blk upon its launch.

Interestingly, have several car nut colleagues who are similarly migrating from CL63 030 to SL63 030...and then on to SL Blk....too much interesting new tech to not explore....will def share my viewpoints....

And pictures?