Test drive Mercedes Benz SL-class R231 since 2012
Test drive Mercedes SL: Technology Legend
Perhaps, I have never been going to the presentation of a new model with such trepidation and the desire to be at the wheel as soon as possible. And, as it turned out later, not in vain. In addition to its main novelty of the new generation of the SL-Class family, Mercedes-Benz has prepared for European journalists a real meeting with a story that has been drawn since 1954, when the light of Mercedes-Benz SL has seen the light. But more on that later.
Our main goal is the new, already sixth generation Mercedes-Benz SL R231. A place for the presentation, in the role of which Spanish Andalusia acted, was chosen to match the luxurious Rodster. Yes, and the route turned out to be a sight for sore eyes: we were to get to the luxurious Marbella from Malagi Airport, enjoying the picturesque views of the Mediterranean coast, adjacent to the plague mountain landscapes.
Designers of the new Mercedes SL in the back of the R231 tried to fame. The silhouette of Rodster is good and with an open and with a closed top.
The main pride of Mercedes is a new light body, almost completely made of aluminum weighing only 254 kg. Only the windshield, door hinges and the lid of the trunk are made of steel. Now, depending on the Mercedes SL version, 125-140 kg is easier than its predecessor! At the same time, the rigidity for twisting increased from 16,000 (in the previous model) to 19,000 nm/city.
The SL-Class body is almost completely made of aluminum. Thanks to this, the new SL 350 is easier than the predecessor of 140 kg, and SL 500 is 125 kg. In this case, the number of on -board systems increased markedly.
The classic design with eyelights, for which the previous Mercedes SL in the back of the R230 fell in love, fell victim to modernity after large -scale restyling in 2008. The current SL is a logical continuation of a new era of design from Stuttgart, where smooth lines and rounded faces are replaced by acute -angled strokes and strict forms. But continuity has not gone away, Mercedes is still a hundred percent recognizable from any angle and viewing angle.
However, now the image of Mercedes SL has become more aggressive and sports. As an experienced chef, the chief designer of the new SL seasoned the former elegance with a massive radiator grille, a huge hood with two ventilation gills and an aggressive bumper. As a result, the favorite dish began to play with new aromas, retaining a favorite taste. A separate respect to designers for a swift silhouette, which is good both with open and with a closed top.
The flat silhouette of the panel, the sights of ventilation deflectors, the mowed steering wheel bagel and two deep well panel wells are decorated in the style of the Mercedes SLS AMG supercar. Front chairs with electric support for lateral support and knee support literally hug the driver's body. Ergonomics ten points. Each element of the cabin is carefully worked out, the force on the keys and levers is verified with the accuracy of the Swiss watches, and only high -quality materials are used in the decoration.
In the interior design, a clear resemblance to the Mercedes SLS AMG supercar is visible.
Equipped SL, as befits a Luxuryodster, according to the latest technology. The list of options contains everything: from traditional climate control to an active cruise and Hi-end audio system from Bang & Olufsen. Like the younger relatives of SLK, the list of additional equipment Mercedes SL has a panoramic roof Magic Sky Control, which can change transparency. The process of opening/closing the roof, according to the official press release, takes less than 20 seconds. Such a vague wording did not suit me, and after my own measured it turned out that the real time was about 18 seconds. It is impossible not to note the function of opening the trunk, which works when you spend with your foot under the rear bumper. By the way, even with a folded roof, the SL cargo compartment can take a couple of small bags aboard, and if you raise the top, the luggage volume increases to quite acceptable 356 liters.
Particular attention on the presentation was paid to the new system of attaching the front speakers of the audio system, which use free space in the aluminum structures of the front of the leg niche, due to which the door space remains free, and the sound becomes more clean and saturated.
Finally, the main innovation in the list of equipment of the new SL system of cleaning the windshield of Magic Vision Control. The water supply to the glass is carried out with the help of many micro -other in the janitor itself, depending on the direction of movement of the brush. As a result, the water is not sprayed throughout the glass, improving visibility. Optionally, the brushes can be equipped with heated, which allows you to serve already heated water, even when there is a tangible minus outside.
The new Magic Vision Control system allows you to clean the windshield more efficiently. Right in the brush many holes are made to supply fluid on the glass. Optionally, wipers are equipped with heating.
With the exception of charged modifications from the AMG division, the new Mercedes-Benz SL is available in two versions: SL 350 and SL 500. The first is the 306-horsepower V6 under the hood of the first, and SL 500 is equipped with a new V8 V8 engine with a volume of 4.7 liters. With a decreased by 0.8 liters of volume, this unit gives out 435 hp. and 700 nm of the maximum moment, and is also of better efficiency.
The new 4.7-liter V8 has lost 0.8 liters of volume, but became more powerful. The regiment of the moment increased from 530 to 700 nm, and efficiency improved by 22%.
Already in the first straight, Rogster demonstrates its dynamic capabilities with a powerful acceleration. With a gas pedal on the floor, Mercedes shoots no worse than an artillery shell and gains the first hundred after only 4.6 seconds. At the same time, a power reserve with more than is enough for a shot from a place and for high -speed overtaking.
The automatic transmission 7G-Tronic Plus, which is equipped with both modifications of SL, was tuned with obvious clock-on and comfort. This does not interfere with switching up/down the step without delay, but when you need to drop a couple of speeds, there is still a pause. You can get rid of it by installing the selector in Sport mode.
The trunk can be opened with a simple movement of the foot under the rear bumper.
Traditional Mercedes SL trump cards well -developed aerodynamics and sound insulation. Even at high speed with an open top in the cabin, you can talk in a whisper. The peace of passengers is violated only by twisting of the side wind, which appears from the bowels of the Mediterranean Sea and dissolving in the mountain cunning cunning.
According to our own estimates, Mercedes spends about 18 seconds on the opening/closing of the roof. In total, three roof options are available for the new SL: ordinary painted, panoramic and Magic Sky Control with the ability to change the transparency of the glass.
The chassis is perfect! On the new SL you can rush through an unlimited autobahn, attack a bunch of turns or storm the winding mountain serpentine. Everything is in high here! An active steering wheel with a changing transfer number meets the right force at any speed. Moreover, the effort is not just pure electronic synthetics, but a real return that forms the already beaten concept of feedback, when, despite the steepness of the turn, you maintain the car intuitively, choosing the correct angle of rotation of the steering wheel already at the entrance.
Mercedes SL with an active suspension Active Body Control is practically devoid of rolls in corners, but the level of comfort and smoothness of the course is still inaccessible.
Active suspension Active Body Control perfectly extinguishes the rolls perfectly, but at the same time provides the very Mercedes smoothness of the course, when all small joints and bumps seem to dissolve in the bowels of shock absorbers, and the pits are practiced more delicately as possible. Perhaps this is the first Mercedes to boast of such a compromise between sports habits and the traditional level of comfort, for which in Stuttgart they are ready to stand a wall for many decades.
I could not try a car with a standard semi -active suspension. According to colleagues, it is no less good and inferior to Active Body Control only in the limit, when the driver actively shifts the car in a connection of fast turns.
Russian sales of the new Mercedes SL start in the midst of the summer season. Prices are not yet named. In order to feel the scale of the tragedy, I will give the German price, where the cost of the Mercedes SL 350 starts from the mark of 93,534 euros, and SL 500 from 117 096 euros. However, is it so much to become the owner of the legendary SL, which, incidentally, is also one of the most technological cars in the world?
Acquaintance with legends
At the end of the first day, the Mercedes Classic Cars unit prepared a real surprise for journalists. We had the opportunity to personally try in the case almost the entire model SL-Class, starting from the 1954 seagull wing and ending with the 2001 Mercedes SL 600.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. The most expensive and exciting spirit of fans Mercedes is a car. In total, 1,400 coupe and 1858 relatives were released. He has a tight steering wheel and brakes, but what are the sensations! It is not surprising that in the 50s it was a reference standard.
Mercedes-Benz 230 SL appeared in 1963. For the shape of a tarpaulin roof, this class immediately received the nickname of the pagoda, by analogy with the same Chinese structures.
In 1971, Mercedes R107 came to replace the pagoda. Under the hood were installed by V8 engines with a volume of 3.5 (350 SL) and 4.5 (450 SL) liter. In 1980, they were replaced by 380 SL and 500 SL. SL in the back of the R107 lasted on the conveyor for 18 years. By the duration of production, only the Mercedes G-Class SUV (Gelendvagen) can be competed with it.
Mercedes SL R129 debuted under the curtain of the 80s. Despite the popularity of the previous generation in the back of the R107 of the German company, fresh blood was needed. As a result, the new SL received several innovations at once, including a stroke arc for safety for the rear seats. The lineup began with two six-cylinder 300 SL and 300 SL-24 and eight-cylinder 500 SL. In 1992, he was replenished with the flagship series 600 SL with the V12 engine. In 1993, the Mercedes-Benz concern accepts a new car classification system in which the letter index is put in front of the digital. A new SL-class is formed, 500 SL and 600 SL models become SL 500 and SL 600, respectively, and the 300th were replaced with SL 280 and SL 320 models.
Source: Carclub.ru
