Skip to main content

Mercedes-Benz SL '08 facelift (R230)

Hello!

In the last few days, a lot has been told about the facelifted Mercedes-Benz SL, as the first unofficial leaked photos emerged some days ago.

Yesterday, the first official press release was made public, along with the official technical data.
Apart from the design, as each one of us have our own ideas (I don't appreciate it very much, I admit, but I may change my mind when I first see it for real), the engine range is re-arranged, with the new versions SL 280 and SL 63 AMG being first in the R230.

However, the most interesting part, for me, is that the SL 350 receives the very latest version of the, already brilliant, V6 3.5L, first introduced on the '08 facelift SLK, with a slight increase in power. It appears, to me, the closest re-interpretation of the Sportlich und Leicht (Sporty and Light) concept, adapted, of course, to the 21st century standards. Far from light (1825 kg), it sounds the best on the entire range, not over-priced as it's bigger brothers, but with a high-revving, powerful and light V6 under the bonnet.

I think finally, as Jason Plato says when test-driving the Black Series CLK 63 AMG, "Mercedes is starting to build cars with the driver in mind".

And I quite like that...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Buying Guide: Smart Roadster and Roadster-Coupé

Hello Petrolheads! In today’s post, I decided to put down a comprehensive guide featuring all the points to look at while searching for a Smart Roadster, plus answering a few of the most regular questions I’m asked. Having first acquired a Roadster 9 years ago and nowadays owning two further units, and having read an awful lot about it, allowed me to have a very detailed idea about the strong and weak points of this Automotive pearl. So, considering buying a Smart Roadster? Congratulations! You’re on the way to a very fun life experience. But, to be so, you must do your homework first. -        Which production year? Generally speaking, I always advise people to avoid cars produced during the first production year . I’m a Mechanical Engineer specialized in vehicle development and production, so have a perfect insight about the topic. Without entering in details, let’s just say that rigid marketing milestones regularly imply a car coming...

Driven: Mercedes-Benz CL 55 AMG Kompressor (2003 C215)

  Hello Petrolheads!   In the last post , I introduced you the Mercedes-Benz CL, generation C215 (1999-2006). The reason being, back in 2017, I got myself one such example, powered by AMG’s superlative 5,5-litre, supercharged V8.   Being a fan of the exquisite design since day one, this is one of those cars which, upon market introduction, for the vast majority of teenagers (myself included), goes into dreamland as fast as it accelerates to one hundred. Or, at best, into the bedroom wall… in the form of a poster. Eighteen years later, when the opportunity to acquire and enjoy one arose, it felt weird, actually. What about test-driving and actually buying it? Apprehension was, definitely, the strongest feeling. If you find yourself in the same situation, thinking whether or not you should play such a high card, I can’t urge you enough: do it! If you do your homework and find The One, I promise you, it will be a very special moment in your life! In this case we are ...

Driven: 2003 Smart Fortwo Passion W450

Cheers, petrolheads! Today’s review regards the starting point of the Smart range: the very first generation Fortwo (aka City-Coupé), with a petrol engine and Passion equipment level. The, then, City-Coupé, came to market in the end of 1998, the range comprising three equipment levels - City&Pure  (basic), City and Pulse (sportier) and City&Passion (more luxurious) - and two versions of the same engine, a self-denominated turbo-suprex (45 and 54 PS). First on selected European markets, expanding to most of Europe by the year 2000. By then, a Cabrio version was added to the range, as well as a diesel CDI version. As everything revolutionary, market response was very cold. Prejudice was the dominant factor, not helped by the fact that it only took two. If it’s true that most people drive alone most of the time – Smart’s own studies had shown an average of 1.2 person per car in west Europe – it’s also correct to assume that most people need, sometimes,...