SL/R230: SL Fact and Figures
11-25-2004, 06:29 PM
#1
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SL Fact and Figures
An article this week in UK Autocar by Peter Robinson, their European correspondent has some interesting facts:
- By the end of this year, 100,000 R230s will have been produced
- The SL has 60% of the premium convertible market
- At launch, Bremen capacity was 29400 cars a year but this was stretched by a reorganisation and in 2003, 34198 SLs were produced
- Production is expected to fall back to 28000 cars a year from now on
- In the first 3 years of production, 20% of SLs were SL%5 AMGs, suprising the market forecasters
- Next generation SL is due for launch in 09, so (my interpretation) with the SL originally launched in 01, expect a facelift after 5 years, 2006, MY 2007
- No diesel planned for the SL, next car will aim for lower weight to enhance the sports car feel
- By the end of this year, 100,000 R230s will have been produced
- The SL has 60% of the premium convertible market
- At launch, Bremen capacity was 29400 cars a year but this was stretched by a reorganisation and in 2003, 34198 SLs were produced
- Production is expected to fall back to 28000 cars a year from now on
- In the first 3 years of production, 20% of SLs were SL%5 AMGs, suprising the market forecasters
- Next generation SL is due for launch in 09, so (my interpretation) with the SL originally launched in 01, expect a facelift after 5 years, 2006, MY 2007
- No diesel planned for the SL, next car will aim for lower weight to enhance the sports car feel
11-25-2004, 06:44 PM
#2
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2004 SL55, 2005 E500 Wagon
Amen to the lower weight. But "adding lightness" usually costs money. Going to a normally aspirated engine should help.
Jim
Jim
11-26-2004, 07:03 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by blueSL
An article this week in UK Autocar by Peter Robinson, their European correspondent has some interesting facts:
- By the end of this year, 100,000 R230s will have been produced
- The SL has 60% of the premium convertible market
- At launch, Bremen capacity was 29400 cars a year but this was stretched by a reorganisation and in 2003, 34198 SLs were produced
- Production is expected to fall back to 28000 cars a year from now on
- In the first 3 years of production, 20% of SLs were SL%5 AMGs, suprising the market forecasters
- Next generation SL is due for launch in 09, so (my interpretation) with the SL originally launched in 01, expect a facelift after 5 years, 2006, MY 2007
- No diesel planned for the SL, next car will aim for lower weight to enhance the sports car feel
- By the end of this year, 100,000 R230s will have been produced
- The SL has 60% of the premium convertible market
- At launch, Bremen capacity was 29400 cars a year but this was stretched by a reorganisation and in 2003, 34198 SLs were produced
- Production is expected to fall back to 28000 cars a year from now on
- In the first 3 years of production, 20% of SLs were SL%5 AMGs, suprising the market forecasters
- Next generation SL is due for launch in 09, so (my interpretation) with the SL originally launched in 01, expect a facelift after 5 years, 2006, MY 2007
- No diesel planned for the SL, next car will aim for lower weight to enhance the sports car feel
11-26-2004, 08:34 PM
#5
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2004 SL55 AMG
I believe that BlueSL is speaking from the UK perspective as they may have received the SL as MY2002 in fall of 2001? I recall that the SLs came out in Europe at least a year ahead of us, hence all of those Euro models out and about here in LA before an official US release.
11-26-2004, 11:06 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by RU_MATRX
I believe that BlueSL is speaking from the UK perspective as they may have received the SL as MY2002 in fall of 2001? I recall that the SLs came out in Europe at least a year ahead of us, hence all of those Euro models out and about here in LA before an official US release.
11-27-2004, 05:02 AM
#7
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Yes, the R230 was launched in August 2001, I have some early promo shots of it with the twin towers in the background, so if you think of an 8 year life, my guess for any mid-life makeover would be for production starting in August 2006, MY 2007.
