You know what?? I like it, actually I like it alot more than yesterday ... Its growing on me already, I think I can see how awesome this car will look IRL ...

BTW, I love the new steering wheel, and the headrests look great .. so stop bragginf and picking on them ...lol

Wow, I'm really late to the party here. And just to clarify, this is the SECOND facelift for the R230 SL Class. The first facelift was very subtle compared to this second facelift.

I agree with those of you who think the entire front end (up to the front wind shield) doesn't flow with the rest of the car. It does seem MB just put another car's front end onto the existing SL. The new headlights and very wide/tall grill looks good in some angles and not so good in other angles. The side profile shots don't look good to me. The hood obviously has been raised to comply with the new Euro pedestrian regulations, but it just doesn't flow with the rest of the car. The front end looks too "thick" from the side.

The R230 SL class was designed in the era of the "fused dual round" headlights with smooth curvy lines, first pioneered by the W220 S-class. The W203 C-class, W209 CLK-class, W211 E-class (except the headlights)and SLR all had the same theme, but the R230 SL was the most beautiful of all, IMO.

The first facelift came in MY2006, which IMO still looks modern and graceful.

Yeah, I realize that is the rationale. It still seems slightly gimmicky.

Any news on the engines and transmissions yet?

ughh, there is something wrong with the front end, I can't quite figure out what... but it lost it's graciousness.

The Mercedes-Benz for the rich and famous gets a major overhaul.

The cult of youth pervades western civilization. People like to appear youthful, and that's exactly why cars like the luxurious Mercedes SL keep getting sportier, even though their buyer demographics might suggest a bit more gravitas. Who doesn't want to be good-looking, sporty, and carefree?

The 2009 SL, the second facelift of the current-generation SL (codenamed R230 and launched in 2001), will be shown at the Geneva auto show in early March. Just two years ago, the SL's chassis characteristics, steering, and engines were sharpened. But this overhaul is far more extensive, enough so that Mercedes refers to it as a new SL.

What’s New?

The look is definitely more contemporary, with the peanut-shaped headlights gone in favor of a more aggressive look that invokes the contemporary CLS four-door. The nose is more pointed; the grille wider; and new side air outlets, wheel designs (at least 18-inches on all models), and LED taillights are designed to up the visual presence on the street. And we're not sure how they do it, but the AMG package makes the car look even more menacing.

But there are retro touches, too, such as the “powerdomes” on the hood. And grille design has come full circle; the single-bar grille, last seen in 1989 on the R107 SL, is back. The SL600 gets extra dressings with numerous V-12 emblems inside and out, different interior door panels, special wheels, and specific exhaust tips.

Look for some of these cues from the SL on upcoming cars. “The SL has always pioneered the styling of other Mercedes models,” says Hans-Dieter Futschik, head of passenger car design in Stuttgart.

Carryover Engines in the SL550, SL600; Meet the New SL63 AMG

It may look youthful, but the SL moves—and has always moved—with great authority. The 382-hp V-8 in the SL550 and the 510-hp, twin-turbo V-12 in the SL600 don’t get a power increase. However, the 510-hp, supercharged SL55 AMG is dumped in favor of the normally aspirated 6.2-liter 518-hp SL63 AMG. But the big news on the AMG is the seven-speed multi-clutch system called MCT. Details are thin, but this is a further development of Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic that will no doubt shift more quickly, and, in this case, operates without a torque converter.

The 6.2-liter AMG engine has subsequently replaced the former 5.4-liter engine in almost all AMG models. The previous unit is still available without a supercharger in the SLK55 AMG, and with a supercharger in the old-school G55 AMG. And, of course, it is the heart of the formidable SLR McLaren, where it is heavily tweaked to produce 617 hp.

But the new 6.2 V-8 is the more modern unit. Its high-revving characteristics bring Mercedes closer to BMW’s and Audi’s offerings, and it is more kind to the catalytic converter during prolonged high-speed autobahn driving.

New Technology: Neck-Warming Airscarf, Updated Comand Infotainment

No official word yet on the SL65 AMG model, but we may safely assume that the 604-hp heavyweight will return to join the rejuvenated lineup soon.

Only Europe gets the choice of two particularly fuel-efficient V-6 engines, a 228-hp unit in the SL280 and a 312-hp unit in the SL350. There is some overlap with the SLK, but don't forget that in Europe the smaller roadster is available with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder.

To complement the sportier new threads, the average SL buyer will be happy to know that the car has also become more comfortable. There is an available Airscarf system that sends warm air through the headrest, thus making open-air driving a viable proposition even when it is chilly outside. Also, the Comand infotainment system is updated and easier to use, new materials spruce up the interior, and there is a new three-spoke steering wheel similar to the one used in the CLS.

The SL faces strong competition, and the strongest of those, according to Detlef Barthelmes, the product manager of the SL and SLK models, is GM with the Corvette and the Cadillac XLR. He is confident the segment will grow steadily. Currently 51 percent of SL sales are in the U.S., even though no V-6 engines are available.

The new SL should keep the platform going—and its drivers looking young and sporty—until a replacement arrives around 2011.


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Interesting. Car and Driver seems to think they know something, they usually do. Time for the official press release!!! I'm under the impression that
once this car is seen in more real life pics (not press shots) and in person it is going to look great.

M

Im more intresting in that double-clutch gearbox.

It isn't a double clutch gearbox. This is some variation of the 7-speed automatic, not a clutch/manual setup.

M

I dont think the MCT gearbox will be the double clutch variety that are now being offered by Audi, VW, and BMW.

The german publications described it as a development of the existing 7 Speed automatic gearbox. The torque converter is replaced by a 'wet' clutch that would enable faster shift times, better blipping and increased efficiency.

No further information is avaliable at this point.