sillydriver

Anyone have any rumors or news about the next generation SL? I tried searching this board with the keyword R231, which I think is the model designation. There’s been nothing posted in the last year. Thanks.

lontong

I'm a junior, but some of the dealer man told me end of 2010, you must see the next generation of SL.

Guido1986

Hey I'm from boston too. My salesman at Mercedes of Westwood told me 2009. He said he heard its going to look like the new CL and they will debut the new 6.3 liter in it.

RJC

Here you go....info for the SL. SLK and CLS are in there

http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...-slk-facelifts

RoydRage

I can live with that...

RoydRage

lontong

Dont understand at all.. New SL will be in 2013, but they prepare a facelift with no more circle headlamp ??

RJC

First let's keep in mind this is not fact, but World Car Fans (formerly German Car Fans) has been a very reliable source for the most part. 2013 is still about 6 more model years away and although MB is changing the lights, bumper caps etc the overall styling of the car's body will remain the same until then.

sillydriver

Looking at comments I found in the AMG side of MB World and other sources, I think the upcoming model that looks like the new CL will be introduced to meet European pedestrian safety standards. New car designs already have to meet those standards, but I think existing designs like the current SL were given a few more years before they had to comply. I suspect that grace period is coming to an end, which forces the change to a more blunt-nosed (and in my opinion uglier) front end. Note that the spy photos for the CL-like redesign show the rest of the car as virtually unchanged, which is unlikely for the real successor to the R230. The MY 2011 or 2013 car would be completely redesigned. I recall hearing a couple years ago that the complete redesign would use a lot more aluminum in its structure.

If this is in fact true, then I foresee trying to keep my 04 SL600 running quite a while longer.

JackStraw

Hi sillydriver, How has that Renntech upgrade been treating you? Any problems w/ M-B when you bring the car in for routine service checks?

Oh, BTW, I agree with you on the change being due to the pedestrian safety requirements.

sillydriver

I haven’t driven the car since the end of November because it’s been in storage for the winter: I have a 3 car garage and the landscaping doesn’t allow for expansion. It’s treated me very well through that point, with no substantial problems. The display does tell me to add an extra quart of oil every few months, but the rate of oil consumption hasn’t increased over time. There’s no oil spotting in the garage or sign of a leak. Last autumn the car’s acceleration did seem just a little less violent than before, and I’ve wondered whether it’s suffering the intercooler water pump issue I’ve read about. The difference is very subtle, so it may be that I’ve just gotten used to the car. I’ll see when I take it out of storage sometime in the next couple weeks, assuming the weather ever warms up in Boston. There’s been no issue with routine maintenance so far.

JackStraw

I attended the NY Auto Show recently and took a close look at the new CL and C-Class. I can't say I like the way the front end / hood are designed, presumably to meet these new pedestrian safety requirements. I hope they do a better job with the face-lifted SL.

LovinMercedes

Don't remember where on the board but it is here.

There was not that much of a change.

smoothbznf4n4tc

Okay, didn't know where to post this but if you guys look at the recent spy shots of the SL facelift (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/sp...rcedes_sl.html)

I think it's going to inherit the slk f1 nose.

Guido1986

I think that would look nice with the F1 nose....but the only problem is it will look too much like the SLK

ItalianStallion

I thought it was confirmed they were doing away with the Gonzo nose. I bet its more on the level of the CL/C than the SLK.

theboogers

i wish some could do a photoshop of sl with new cl front end lights and bumper. would probably be what they are headed for.

Marky-Mark

Yes, due to be released 2012/13.