AzCLS2006

Does anyone have any insight or insider info as to when the Sl63 will debut here in the USA? I heard sometime in 2006, but I may be wrong? If it is in 2006, which month do you suspect it will be?

ajf1

i dont know abouth the sl 63 but the sl 550 launches april 15 or somewhere around there.

IanSL55

I'm of the understanding that there won't be a SL63. The E63 will be the highest class car using that engine.

~ Ian

ClayJ

I was going to post and say that...but I'm not so sure....

Vik888

SL550 in April?? That soon? Wow. I thought it was going to be a 2008 model.

ClayJ

Nah, they're spittin' 'em out.

Can Drive 55

If there is not going to be an SL63, then what engine is going to go in the AMG with a V8? It seems to me that the SC55 is going away due to hood clearance problems. Right?

jjtoma

I talked to a friend at the Merc dealer here this morning.
He said sometime midspring, it would have the new V8, small
change in exterior, nothing major, will be a 2007 model.
Mercedes is staying very quiet about the SL.
His thinking is a annoucement in Feb. They are the largest Merc
dealer for SL's in the US, sales have slowed on 2006's. They
had 38 2005 SL's in Dec moved all of them.

He is looking for a SL for his sister, going to wait until the 2007 hits
the showroom, expects the 2005 will take a major resale hit.

He also feels the the market now for used CL's is a good buy.

ClayJ

Quote from can drive 55: "If there is not going to be an SL63, then what engine is going to go in the AMG with a V8? It seems to me that the SC55 is going away due to hood clearance problems. Right?"

I've seen it said, vociferously, that the new SL V8 model will come with the 6.3. I've seen it said somewhat less often that they're going to stick with the 5.5 S/C until major model overhaul in like, 2008 or 2010?
I'm tending to believe the take that it will get the 6.3, because I remember not too long ago (few months) that the E wasn't going to get the 6.3, would remain with the 5.5 S/C until it's major model change sometime in like 2010 or 2012...and we believe now that it is indeed getting the 6.3 this year....

My interjection/speculation is what about the possibility of incorporating the new hood crumple zones (ala GL) into other models and thusly being able to keep the 5.5 S/C in some models? I also see the lower, more curved, and smaller frontal-area designs on the new S and E in particular as possibly being a part of that other strategy to meet the 2007 European Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety law. I have looked and still continue to look for someone in the know or in the industry to talk about this -- no luck yet. But I also know that I am way ahead of the curve on this issue because I was aware that MBZ was considering bringing the 6.3 (or some other motor in development) in to replace the 5.5 S/C motor because of the safety law over a year ago -- and nobody was talking about that either.
I think that speculation is OK, per se; but I am waiting for someone in the know to state what is really up. May have to wait for a MBZ or AMG press release to be confidant in what will happen....

Can Drive 55

OK, sit back and enjoy the ride. We will get there when we get there. Please pass on any info as you come across it.

ClayJ

That's what I'm doing -- or what I have to do. I am trying to stay on top of it - that's one of the reasons that I'm here on the forums - and of course I'll pass on anything that I think has enough substance to be worth passing on....

Vik888

Since I'm in the market for a SL55 AMG, what would you guys recommend? Is the SL550 going to be comparable in performance? Any ideas on if the exterior changes will impact the SL55 AMG?

Anymore info would be appreciated.

vraa

Everything I've heard about the 550 engine is that it's near 388hp or so.
SL55 is 493hp.

That is a hundred horsepower advantage to the SL55. I really doubt a better tranny and gearing can make up for that loss.

Can Drive 55

Ricky is correct. The 550's performance won't compare to the AMG. there are also a lot of other components that come with the AMG package - brakes, trans mods, suspension, seats, etc. I would go with the 55 and the 030 perf package if it is within your budget.

JackStraw

According to Autoweek, there will be an S63 later in the year. I suspect that there will not be a 2007 SL55, but rather an SL63. No reason to have so many different engine types in the line-up.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...73231372495393

ClayJ

I don't think that the SL550 is going to be a complete slouch at 388hp -- remember pre- 5.5 S/C when the E55 had only a 302hp NA V8 back in 2000+? Nobody thought that that car was a slouch!
But if one is into performance at all one must really go with the AMG model. Save up the ducats, sell the dog, heck sell the teenage daughter (no, that's going too far!), stop handing the Mrs. the credit card to go shopping on the weekends, clean out the garage and garage-sale all of that 10 year old crap that the last ten years' have proven that you're never going to use -- whatever. There is indeed alot more that comes with an AMG model than just the engine (as if that alone doesn't make it worth it!).
And I'm doing the 030 packages big-time; just like with AMG over non-AMG, 030 AMG vs. AMG is a substantial enough difference to me to be worth the addition in price....

vraa

SL550 certainly won't be a slouch. Infact the CLK550 will easily whip the CLK55 (W209 both). However in the W209 case, the AMG isn't s/ced.

SoCalBenzLover

Definitely would agree with the others, there's no comparison. An AMG is an AMG, no matter how much they improve the regular model line engines.

Either you love the power and performance of an AMG, or you're happy with just an SL. The regular SL is no slouch for sure, but an AMG stands alone.

Vik888

Pardon my ignorance, what is the 030 perf package? Is it a MB standard product?

I'd check MB's site, but its crashed:

Virtual Host or Web Application Not Found

The host www.mbusa.com on port 9081 has not been defined

IBM WebSphere Application Server

Can Drive 55

From memory, so I could forget something, but you will get the idea, the front bumper is modified for cooling vents from additional cooling, modified suspension, limited slip differential, 186MPH limiter, alcantera leather on the steering wheel, compound composite brakes, and larger wheels and tires. That package is not available on the 65, as it already has most of it as standard equipment.

SL65amg

Remember that Benz usually ends up coming out with more power than we thought they would. The naturally aspirated 6.3 liter will not be powerful enough for the SL/CL/S class cars. the S/C 5.5 liter V-8 was about 200 more horsepower than the 5.0 liter SL 500, so if we do the math we can see than Benz will most likely try to have the 2007 or 2008 model SL/CL/S class cars be atleast 200 more horsepower than the all-new 388 HP V-8. So expect atleast 575 horsepower or more. Which means most likely all the rumors and word from the magazines about the twin-turbo 6.3 liter V-8 for the S/CL/S class and possibly also for the CLS and E Class are all probably true.


Don't be surprised to see a 2008 model SL 63 with a twin turbo V-8 and atleast 575 horsepower ... maybe even more.
And don't be surprised to see a 6.9 liter twin turbo AMG engine later on also .... never underestimate AMG .... they love to surprise us all by coming out with cars in the end that have alot more power than we thought they would. But it's about time we stopped being surprised by it and just expect those kinds of things .... :-) :p


And if their BiTurbo V-8 will have between 575 to 600+ horsepower, than don't at all expect the current 65 SOHC AMG V-12 to remain the top dog. AMG will have to either come out with a DOHC 48-Valve V-12 AMG twin-turbo, or greatly increase the power of the current 65 engine to well over 700 horsepower. Remember, the current 65 engine is atleast 111 Horsepower or more than the current supercharged V-8, so if we do the Math again then expecting atleast 700 horsepower out of the next-generation top of the line creme de la creme AMG V-12 is not at all unreasonable or illogical.

It would be very cool for AMG to add 4 more cylinders to their 6.3 liter V-8, then add bi-Turbo's, let AMG really do their magic on it to get it to that 7.3 liter size, and we'll have a truely bad-*** return of the "7.3" AMG Designation. But ofcourse it'll be a BiTurbo 7.3 liter 48-Valve DOHC V-12 with insane power outputs. :v

IanSL55

Yes, according to both Motor Trend and Automobile magazines, the new M156 6.2L V8 (N/A 6.3) will find its way into the ML63, CLK63, E63, and R63. Two turbo charged versions of this engine are 'in the works' and will produce 563hp/664lb-ft and 697hp/886lb-ft (but no mention where these engines might end up). Additionally, they state the evolution of the N/A version would be to a increased displacement of 6.8L (N/A 6.9).

IMHO that would be a shame... The output of the SL63 would be ball park w/ the soccer Mom ML63 and the baby CLK63? In a word: Ugh...

~ Ian

Tomsilver

Hi Folks.

First post here. I'm from Germany and I'm thinking about buying a new SL, either the SL 550 (in Germany the SL500 name will be kept) or the SL 55 AMG. My greatest concern with the SL 55 is to have suddenly an "old" car, if short time later the car is replaced with the SL63 AMG.

So far, I have not found any indication that the 5,5 engine in the SL 55 AMG will be replaced shortly. After the facelift, the power output of the engine is increased (in Germany) from 500 hp to 517 hp. This is not a sign for the end of life of the 5.5 engine in the SL.

best regards from cold, snowy Germany
Tom

sillydriver

My guess is that the upcoming AMG SL will in fact use a turbo V8. For one thing, turbos don’t add to the height of an engine the way a supercharger does, making it easier for a turbo engine to meet the pedestrian safety regulations. However, based on comments in various forums and an article in Auto Motor und Sport, I suspect the turbo V8 will be based on the new Mercedes 5.5L (possibly with slightly increased displacement) not the AMG-designed 6.3.

IanSL55

I'm inclined to agree here. Because of the SC AMG has been able to significantly differentiate output between models (i.e. HP in the CLK55 v. SL55)... however if they use the 6.3L engine across the board w/out a SC or turbo you'll have the ML55 making ballpark numbers w/ the SL and CL class AMG's. Odd concept I'd think.

~ Ian