Winter 2008

A Sporting Legend
The SL-Class Models Have Superb Styling, Great Performance And A Distinguished Pedigree

It has glamorous looks that are guaranteed to stop traffic - as other drivers look on admiringly - and a zippy performance that matches its sporty design.

Mercedes-Benz SL-Class models are masterpieces of engineering, with the kind of gorgeous looks and sweeping lines that draw bystanders wherever they are parked. But these are not, of course, cars that just look great: they are performance models that are designed for the open road, connoisseurs's models that celebrate the sheer joy of motoring.

Anyone watching this year's thrilling Formula One races will be familiar with the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. Organisers of the championship chose the SL 63 AMG as the official safety car, knowing that its performance, speed, safety and reliability were perfect for zooming around the world’s racetracks.

Power and Performance
In fact it was a rather good year for Mercedes-Benz on the track, with Briton Lewis Hamilton taking the driver's title in the McLaren Mercedes car in a thrilling season finale, and becoming the youngest champion ever, at just 23 years old. Not everyone who buys an SL aspires to be a racing driver, or even to drive especially fast, but they are people who appreciate a car with power, performance and race pedigree.

The current SL-Class can trace its ancestry back half a century, to the 300 SL which scored a landmark win in the 1,600-kilometre Brescia to Rome race, leaving its Italian rivals trailing in its wake. Today's drivers can also call on that kind of performance: the SL 500, for example, can sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds, about the time it takes to read this sentence. Opt for the V12 engine in the same model and a further fraction of a second is shaved off.

In the SL 500 model and SL 350 its stable-mates, the fast gear shifting needed to reach this speed so quickly is taken care of by the 7G-tronic automatic system that can skip several gears to deliver impressively torquey acceleration when needed.

Fun Driving Experience
Impressive speed isn't just confined to the engine. Owners who opt for the vario-roof, allowing the open-top driving experience that is such fun, especially in a generally warm climate like Hong Kong's, will be impressed to find that it takes just 16 seconds to fold it away, fast action which will be much appreciated when rain clouds threaten.

There is also the option of ordering the SL-Class with a panoramic, vario-roof, featuring glass instead of metal panels that allow driver and passenger to enjoy the visual dimension of roadster motoring within the comfort and quiet of a closed car.

To allow open-top motoring during the cooler weather, engineers have come up with an inventive head-warming solution. The optional AIRSCARF system consists of fans built into the rear of the headrest that heat air, ready to be gently wafted around the driver’s head. It means chill-free open-top motoring, even in cooler weather and at higher speeds.

Thrilling Dynamism
Another option worth considering is the new direct steering system, both designed to benefit the performance-minded driver and add an extra element of driving excitement to a vehicle that performs with thrilling dynamism.

Every SL-Class model comes with hi-tec control panel and slick upholstery, complementing the sleek and sports-oriented exterior. There is, of course, a wide variety of colour choices for the interior and exterior, along with a selection of classy optional extras including the designo range.

Drivers who want even more power to play with can opt for the SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG models, both built with a sporty attitude in mind. The AMG marque has a rich and distinguished history of race-proven excellence, and these AMG models follow in that fine tradition with their sculpted bonnet, twin chrome tailpipes and rear spoiler.

The SL 63 AMG comes with a large-displacement AMG eight-cylinder engine and sports transmission that combines the responsiveness of a manual shift with the convenience of an automatic system. In other words, the best of both worlds. The SL 65, with its AMG V12 biturbo engine is a formidably fast piece of engineering, capable of doing the 0-60 km/h sprint in a mere 4.2 seconds' about the time it takes to blink four times.

Safety Assured
Last, but by no means least, is the legendary Mercedes-Benz commitment to safety. The manufacturer's vehicles may nip around bends quickly but drivers can be assured that there is no cutting of corners when it comes to safety measures: the ingenious Mercedes-Benz innovations are the most respected and admired in the entire motor industry. In fact when people think of the German manufacturer, safety is one of the first words that springs to mind.

A good safety concept is based on extensive experience yet is bang up to date - like the PRE-SAFE® system in SL-Class models, which reduces stress on the driver by providing assistance and support in critical situations.

Another comforting feature is the high-strength passenger safety cell, which helps to reduce the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Other reassuring safety features include the placing of the fuel tank in the protected area, ahead of the rear axle, the stadard fit bi-xenon headlights for better driving vision, and the automatic unlocking of the doors and switching-on of hazard warning lights after an accident. Even the engine can turn itself off if major impact on the vehicle is detected.

Good Handling
Owners can beef up the safety features still further by requesting the optional Intelligent Lighting System, which has integrated cornering light function. Good handling characteristics are ensured by the Active Body Control System, standard on the SL 500 SL 600 and AMG models, and available as an optional extra on the SL 350.

The way it works is to lower the vehicle body during high-speed driving, thereby improving road-holding and aerodynamics, minimizing wind noise and reducing fuel consumption. Directional stability is taken care of by the Electronic Stability Program, equipped with sophisticated sensors capable of identifying a sudden loss of tyre pressure and triggering a warning. Sensors also control the roll-over bar, which can be deployed in a fraction of a second in an emergency.

All in all, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class drivers can take to the road knowing that they are driving one of the safest vehicles around in addition to being at the wheel of one of the most stylish, most sought-after and most comfortable. A truly magnificent sports model.