Test drive Mercedes Benz SL-class R231 since 2012
3.3 square winds. Mercedes-Benz SL 500
This is the best car of those on which I had to ride. Point (pleasure?). In principle, this presentation could be limited, but other details are needed.
Compared to the predecessor, the new generation SL significantly added in the length (+50 mm) and width (+57 mm) the salon in the shoulder zone became 37 mm wider, in the elbow of 28
So, the previous fifth generation SL (designation R230) throughout the life cycle (from 2001 to 2011) lasted without obvious technical changes. New modifications appeared, there were replacements of engines and facelift in 2008 (then the FL designation was added to the R230 index) ... But in general, there were no strong modernizations. It was necessary to start mating for a long time, rivals fried. SL of the last, sixth generation (R231), which I met a few days ago on the Spanish serpentines in the vicinity of Malaga, is a revolution: more painful and economical motors, a new body and a lot of interesting innovations.
SL 500 in the standard has 18-inch wheels. In front dimensions 255/40, rear 285/35
An aluminum body is easier than the previous steel at 110 kg. At the same time, the modification of SL 500 on a circle dropped 125 kg compared to the predecessor, and SL 350 is 145! The power structure has become smarter and, of course, stronger. Where is it without it today? The angular stiffness of the steel body of the previous generation was a little more than 16,000 nm/degrees, the new aluminum already had 19,000. And with the top raised, all 19,400! The structure and plumage is completely aluminum, only the frame of the windshield made of ultra -high steel. But the hard folding dome is set, guides and ribs steel mixed with magnesium. SL contained advanced technologies, but just not the roof drive! You can open or close it, only constantly holding a P-shaped car driver is not here.
The electro -hydraulic drive opens the roof in 20 seconds. Three options are available for the dome: metal with a painted top, and glass with a curtain or a Magic Sky Control system. The latter using electrochromic elements changes the transparency of the glass with one click of the button. Such a luxury is 2000 euros
The speed range in which the electro -hydraulic drive works is also small. It is worth reaching a ten -kilometer mark, and the roof freezes in place. No worse than an aerodynamic brake on the Su-35! But the latest Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet (factory index 991) works at speeds up to 50 km/h. That is, manipulations with a tent on Porsche can be done without particularly knocking out from urban traffic, bustle with unnecessary restructures, stops and injections into the stream is excluded. And this, sorry, security!
The ABC system (Active Body Control) with hydraulics changes the ground clearance in a wide range. The body can be forcibly raised 50 mm from the zero level (different versions are different and is about 110 mm), but after reaching 40 km/h, it will automatically return to its original position. At a speed of 80 km/h, the case will sit on its own 13 millimeters. Thus reduces the height of the center of gravity and validity
What if an extraneous object falls between the frame of the windshield and the laying roof? I put my hand on the frame ... Why are you doing something? Stops me with engines (Quattroruote). At least take an ashtray or a bottle! Usually, in such cases, I trust the Germans, but it is better not to neglect this safety precautions. Andrey looked into the water. A half -filled bottle of 0.7 roof crushed, like a press. The docking the left castle occurred clicked, but the right one! .. The roof with a tangible distortion was jammed. Christmas trees, neither there, nor here! And if it really would be fingers or (here are not up to jokes) neck?! At least I could get rid of hematomas, as much better not to think ... The Germans did not inspect something here, today any Korean budgetary has electric windows with closers and protection from pinching. The penny chip and the problem is solved in the root ... But it shamefully make excuses to the Mercedes, they say, it ended with washing, so they decided to get a bottle over the glass, I did not have to stir the jammed roof almost immediately, and remove the crushed bottle. It worked everything, as before, the servicemen were not needed.
Ergonomics is magnificent. The seats have a unadcounters of adjustments and massage, after you have a good arrangement for yourself, you literally drive into it. In the turns, the side rollers of the back and pillows are puffed up and provide a wonderful support. The skin is finished with seats, doors and front console. Decorative inserts can be five options using veneer and aluminum
Hello again! The all -Russian panel with non -contrast digitization of the scales migrated here, in the afternoon and in border lighting, the readings are not read badly. In the dark, the situation is noticeably better
And what about speed? If you open the dome, but at the same time leave the glass and the rear windproof screen, you will not feel the fundamental difference between 80 and 180 km/h. Bravo! Fresh air, the sun ... The main thing is not to forget the golden convertible rule to always go in the headdress, otherwise the hair will have to be washed 20 times a day. With lowered glasses, even at speeds for 130 strong discomfort, you will not feel. The aerodynamics is magnificent, the most powerful double -zone climate in the shade of the windshield holds the set temperature even with street +15.20s. And also at your service, a branded Mercedes lotion is an air scarf. The deflector supplies hot air (the blowing has three -speed adjustment) to the neck and head, was brought directly into the headrest. Radiculitis does not shine at you, if on the street, of course, not minus twenty.
On SL, the wiper with the loud name Magic Vision Control debuted. The idea is actually simple and brilliant. The design of the wipers allows you to serve washing immediately in front of the cleansing element through a series of holes along the entire length of the brush. Needless to say, such cleaning is more uniform and effective. The sightseeing during spraying does not deteriorate, and the sprayed washer will never fall into the cabin with an open roof
Chassis phenomenon. At the moment, SL 500 is the most pleasant of everything that I had to ride on. Some of his colleagues noticed that the sensations are similar to those that the younger brother SLK gives. There is a common one, undoubtedly. Combined reactions, calibrated efforts on governing bodies. That's the name! But Slk is a broken and a bastard. Lightly, brisk, perky and unprecedented here you are sitting almost above the rear axle, which is why it shakes stronger. In addition, because of a short base, he is not devoid of swing on gentle waves.
SL is addressed to a more mature audience. It is better for traveling. The distance between the axes is 155 mm larger, the riders here are closer to the center of the base. The peaks of vertical accelerations from the flaws of the roadway practically do not bother. A more inert SL body, like an anvil, extinguishes the fluctuations of unsharged masses much more successful than SLK. SL is tangibly more comfortable. And at the same time, at any moment you can pretty tickle your nerves and let dust in the eyes of the neighbors in the stream. Smell well well on the right pedal.
On the new SL, the Hands-Free Access system allows you to open and close the trunk without touching the lid. The assistant is available as an option as part of a non -clock access system. To open the trunk, it is enough to the bottom of the rear bumper (there is a capacitive sensor) to bring the leg. It is very convenient when your hands are busy. Hands-Free Access works only if you have a key in your pocket
ABC hydraulics (Active Body Control), integrated into shock absorber racks, the option, it changes the clearance in the range of 63 mm by clicking the fingers and makes SL an invaluable acquisition. Clay? Welcome! SL will get stuck where 911 will never fall. Not only does ABC support the body level by constant, regardless of loading, it is quite effectively fighting the rolls and longitudinal tagging. In Sport mode, it does it more actively, but without frenzy fanaticism (the latter awaits us on versions 63 and 65 AMG). But at low speeds (up to about 40 km/h), the electronics of the roll and does not extinguish. In general, this is useless, only to select energy to maintain the performance of the system.
SL 500 car is driver, but at the same time damn comfortable. The steering wheel is clean, no extra husk and burden. The drive is intelligible and, most importantly, pleasant! Feedback efforts in the top ten! The anti -wings system and the dynamic stabilization system are disconnected. But you can burn rubber in drifts at speeds up to 60 km/h. After this line, stabilization automatically wakes up, however, the anti -book remains deactivated. The main thing with gas is not overdoed by the output from the turns! The back of the pressure of 700 Newton meters instantly goes into the dance. Yes, so that it becomes scared, for now, ah-ah there ESP will recover ... well, Gaza! What is there under a long hood? V-shaped modernized eight Blueedirect with direct phased injection and two turbochargers. She gives 435 hp at the peak. With a working volume of 4663 cm3. The engine compared to the fact that it was put on the previous generation, lost 800 cubes, but the power began to issue more by as long as 12%. The torque grew from 530 to 700 nm (growth 32%, that is, a third!). And it falls on you in the range from 1800 to 3500 revolutions per minute. Song!
On guard of the riders, belts with electric and pyrotechnic pretensors, active head restraints (firing towards their heads and more smoothly extinguish the energy of the blow when hitting behind) and five airbags. Two -stage front pillows, passenger pillows are interesting in that it protects the head even with a lateral blow. When the SRS electronics (Supplemental Restraint System) understands that a collision is possible (for example, the roadster goes into sliding), it automatically raises the glass. When the latter in the upper position, the side pillows are most effective. Before overturning in a couple of hundredths of a second, spring -loaded security arches are produced behind the seats
A moderate appetite is the result of a total diet, refinements of the process of mixing formation and the use of the ECO Start/Stop system, which dramatizes the motor at any opportunity. To the seven-speed hydrotransforming transmission 7G-Tronic Plus, no questions at all. The speed of switching and the timeliness of the gears always correspond to your wishes. But the brakes seemed not enough! The convertible is far from an athlete. 1785 kg of mass must be able to adequately stop. From the word adequately in the Mercedes brake drive, only the branded cotton was stuck, the rest disappeared. However, this is from the category of nit -picking. Moreover, it will be possible to fix this on AMG versions by ordering a carbonocoramism ...
The new body is completely aluminum, the exclusion of the windshield frame, it is made of ultra -high steel. The aluminum power elements are made by casting by pressure, a pulled profile with a variable wall thickness and stamped parts are also used. The assembly is carried out using welding in an inert gas, rivets and threaded joints. The last aluminum and wrap in pre -made holes at high speed, friction helps to warm up and melt parts in places of contact with fasteners. This makes the connection even more reliable. Cast aluminum parts are supplied by three European suppliers, a profile five. Stamping, including plumage, Mercedes produces itself
The five -hundredth 100 km/h is gaining in just 4.6 seconds, this is as much as 0.8 seconds faster than the previous generation. From an engineering point of view, this is the universe. However, the new 400-horsepower Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio with a preselly automatic PDK gearbox faster, it does this exercise in 4.5 seconds. 4.6 is also not bad, but I don’t want to on the track on SL 500. It is for pleasure, which is not measured by accelerometers and kilograms of saved mass, is not detected by stopwatch. This pleasure lies outside the usual system of gear-shawl coordinates ... It does not smell of gasoline and burned rubber. Here, happiness, and not even in Newton meters ... This car lifts you to a different level. He gives freedom to his understandability, simplicity of management, unobtrusive and ease. It allows you to feel the space differently
And what about repairs? In principle, damaged aluminum plumage panels can be fed and spaced, but this is not profitable. Replacing the whole element with coloring takes less than normal hours, so cheaper.
Damaged power aluminum fragments are also replaced. The corresponding element is simply cut out of the power structure and replaced by a new one. Special welding among inert gas is available to many dealers now. The scrap and connecting with screws are carried out at the same points as before. The compounds are removed, the holes are drilled, and then replaced by new ones with a large diameter. The line of the body on the slipway is also provided for
In the habitats of SL, there must certainly be mountains with winding two -row paths. Without them, SL is not SL. Glasses woven from protracted pattern bends, twisted, stained turns and studs, this is the main food of SL-ki. High -speed autobahns air. It is a pity, the issue of the implementation of all engineering and the spirit embedded in the car will remain open in the Moscow region. The whole buzz from this chassis on our wretched roads is unlikely to be able to feel. It's a pity.
The cost of the SL 500 in Germany starts from the mark of 117,000 euros. It can be assumed that our car will cost about 6,000,000 rubles. The Russian start of the novelty will take place in the month of July. In Europe, in addition to the five hundredth, you can already order a less powerful SL 350 (equipped with 306-horsepower V6) and SL 63 AMG (V8, Twin-Turbo, 537 hp), which made it debuted at the Geneva car dealership. Later, the 65 AMG modification with a 630-horsepower V12 is also expected.
Anatoly Kucheryvenko
Photo: Andrey Motorov (Quattroruote) and Mercedes-Benz
Source: Auto.mail.ru
