SL/R230: Face-Lifted SL in 2005!




"Im Jahr 2005 steht das Facelift des SL's an. Eigentlich sollte er nach schon 2001 im SLR Look erscheinen, doch es war keine Zeit mehr das schon fertige Design des SL's noch einmal zu überarbeiten. Deshalb bekommt der SL den SLR Look beim Facelift. Neu im SL ist dann auch die neuen V-Motoren. Dazu zählt ein V6 und ein V8 Motor plus die AMG-Variante. AM SL 600 wird erstmal nichts geändert. Doch die V6 und V8 Motoren werden komplett umgestellt. Sie werden im Hubraum auf drei und vier Liter reduziert und erhalten eine Turboaufladung. Dadurch sollen die Leistungsdaten gegenüber den jetzigen Modellen steigen, der Verbrauch aber sinken. Im SL-Facelift feiert dann auch die 2. Generation des ABC Premiere! Auch auf dem Sicherheitssektor sollen neuartige Lammella-Airbags bei einem Seitenaufprall oder Überschlag den Kopf und Arme des Insassen schützen."
btw.. holy crap that looks like a photochopped SLR on a SL front! lol
I do wish they'd drop this idea of trying to ape the front look of the Formula 1 cars. It wouldn't be so bad if they were being successful at it but the fact is that Ferrari are wiping the floor with them.
We know how the Maybach has turned out, we'll see whether the SLR is any better.
Mercedes had to compete in the Bentley/Rolls Royce arena and the Maybach is what they came up with. The new Bentley (aka Volkswagen) is fresh and exciting. The word is that the new Rolls-Royce (aka BMW), just weeks away, is stunning and will blow the Maybach away.
I find it difficult to believe the SLR will be as well received as the Pagani Zonda, even with all the help from McLaren. It will be interesting whether there will be future collaborations like this, McLaren are a company which is stronger on ego and style than on substance.
As big a fan as I am of Mercedes, there are some sectors where they just do not hack it. You guys in the US do not have the A-class and its Vaneo derivative which looks like something out of a cartoon.
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Besides Ferrari is just very dominant this season. Mercedes has won F1 titles in the recent past.....
Back in 1998, 1999 & 2000 where great years for them ie the time the SLR was conceived. Granted they are not doing that well now but give them time

F1 wins never stay with the same team for too long eg Honda.
in reference to the Zonda I dont think we sill see any car as exotic as the Zonda for some time even the Koenigsegg CC is not getting the attention the Zonda is......
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Last edited by Sammy7783; Jan 3, 2003 at 05:07 PM.
Last edited by mattnaz; Jan 22, 2004 at 08:11 PM.
the maybach doubled the phantom's sales! (tried finding the link but couldn't 300 phantoms were sold to the maybach's 600)
So i would say that mercedes has won in that field. And there really isn't a car besides the porsche GT that competes with the SLR. the enzo is about 300 thousand dollars more expensive.
i
In regards to the Maybach, time will tell. I am a huge fan of Mercedes and had the luxury of driving the short wheel-base Maybach at my dealer as a neighbor purchased one. It is a truly fantastic car, however I was taken around NYC to do Christmas shopping in a Rolls' Phaeton (I think I mispelled) and it was an amazing experience. As great as Benz and Maybach are, it is hard to compete with the experience of being in a Rolls with those big wings at the end of the hood; interior appointments were VERY nice and it felt "rich."
I do wish they'd drop this idea of trying to ape the front look of the Formula 1 cars. It wouldn't be so bad if they were being successful at it but the fact is that Ferrari are wiping the floor with them.
There is a styling progression that would suit the SL when the major facelift comes in 07/08 - it will focus on the theme of a refined but simple stared grill and I simply don't believe it will have the F1 nose.
However, i don't think the new Roller is much of a styling tour de force - it looks like an enlarged new Audi!
Last edited by Mustard; Jan 23, 2004 at 10:55 AM.
Is it bombing? I personally would rather have the Roller Phantom anytime, (if I were spending 250k on a saloon).
I've only ever seen one Maybach, so perhaps sales are very poor? (I've seen a couple of Rollers)
(PS on subject of facelift - SL will almost certainly get the SLR look, question is when - I'd guess it'll be half way through the model life (like the new C Class), hence make that an actual 2005-6 timescale (four years in from 2001 launch). I think it'll look great too, like the new SLK).
Last edited by NastyAluQuadra; Jan 24, 2004 at 08:16 AM.



