(December 18, 2011) Mercedes-Benz is rolling out a new SL roadster this spring as a 2013 model. The two-seat SL, a longtime flagship for the German luxury car maker, grew out of the company’s sports-car racing program of the early 1950s.

The all-new SL continues a tradition that began 60 years ago. For six decades the letters "SL" have been synonymous with a blend of sport, style and comfort — infused with groundbreaking innovation. For the first time, the SL is being produced almost entirely from aluminum and consequently weighs considerably less than its predecessor.



Its highly rigid all-aluminum bodyshell provides the basis for sporty handling that has been taken to an entirely new level, coupled with outstanding body roll and ride characteristics.

The SL for decades has been a rather heavy, feature-laden luxury car with little of its original racing heritage in evidence. With the coming model, built mostly of aluminum, the company plans to recapture some of the earlier cars’ spirit.

Compared with its predecessor, which was little changed for a decade, the 2013 is designed to be more agile and athletic. The new aluminum body weighs 242 pounds less than it would using the steel of the previous SL. Overall, the 2013 SL550 weighs about 275 pounds less than its predecessor.

Even better driving dynamics come courtesy of the new direct injection engine, which is more powerful and economical than the outgoing generation.

A new 4.7-liter V-8 engine in the SL550 puts out 429 horsepower. Acceleration form zero to 60 mph takes 4.5 seconds.

Other new features include the unique FrontBass system, which turns the luxury sports car into a concert hall — with the top down or up — and the highly efficient MAGIC VISION CONTROL.

"There are around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of models. But there is only a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them: It has class, it has style, it is the ultimate in comfort and luxury," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.  "And it combines all that with an incredibly sporty and dynamic character. You would struggle to find a car that embodies Gottlieb Daimler's aspiration more perfectly than our new SL - the best or nothing."

Mercedes says that compared with its successful predecessor, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL offers considerably more comfort and athletic character, setting new standards in the luxury roadster class. This includes amazing everyday usability, making the SL the most versatile of all sports cars. In short, anyone talking about the new SL is surely talking about the ultimate in passionate, refined motoring.