The Rare Mercedes SL: A Revolution in Design and Technology

Here's something very rare in a motoring world - a brand-new Mercedes SL, which despite first going on sale way back in 1954, is only the sixth new model in its iconic history. Instead of looking back at comparing this car to its famous predecessors, I'm going to look at it from the other way around - it's unlikely to be replaced until 2020 at the very earliest, so despite its history, the SL Venna has been built for the future to make sure it doesn't feel like they're a decade behind.

This is the first SL to be built with an aluminium body shop, which is a significant change from its previous steel-based construction. The big headline here is that compared to a steel body, this new aluminium version weighs 140 kilograms less, thanks to its true new body design. With this weight reduction comes improved fuel economy, which is 30% better than before. Additionally, with less mass lumbering around the car, handling should be tighter and more responsive.

The SL stands for sporty and light, which it certainly does in terms of its physical characteristics. However, some reviewers have noted that despite its sleek design, the steering can feel a bit "dead" - lacking in feedback or response. This may be due to the heavy weight option on suspension, which adds an extra 5,000 pounds to the car's already impressive heft. It's worth noting that this is not typical of most SL models, and other reviewers have found them to be more responsive and engaging.

The SL is also designed with comfort in mind - it features "hot air" blowing across the back of your neck, which is a nice touch for long drives. The interior is described as smooth, refined, and pretty nice, with plenty of attention to detail. A Philippi mirror-like finish adds an extra layer of luxury to the car's design. In terms of safety, the SL features advanced technology such as collision avoidance, which will alert you if it thinks you're about to crash. If that happens, the car will jump on the brakes and display a "coffee cup" message, urging you to pull over. It will also adjust the airbags, seatbelts, and headrests to give you a soft landing.

However, there is one very fundamental problem with this car - the ignition key is in the wrong place, which can be frustrating when trying to start or stop the engine. The reviewer notes that this is not just an inconvenience, but also a safety concern - if you accidentally press the accelerator while the car is stopped, it can cause problems with the throttle.

In terms of options and extras, Mercedes is certainly holding back on no expenses spared. One particularly eye-catching option is "magic sky control" for £2,610. This allows you to turn the sun's rays from a slanting angle to a more pleasant one - whatever your preference! Additionally, there are massaging seats available for £1,725, and 14 speakers instead of eight for £1,150. Notably absent is an analog clock that usually accompanies such luxury cars.

Despite its high-end features and technological advancements, the SL has been pitted against its BMW 6-series rival in terms of sales predictions. However, according to Mercedes, this base model with a V6 engine should indeed be their best seller. The reviewer concludes by noting that while the SL may not be the snarling fire-breathing spitting v8 beast of a motor that some might expect, it is actually beautifully engineered and does a great job of posing and cruising around - making it an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy the finer things in life.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhere's something very rare in a motoring world a brand-new Mercedes SL because despite first going on sale way back in 1954 this is only the sixth new model in his iconic history now instead of looking back in comparing this car to its famous predecessors I'm going to look at it the other way it's unlikely to be replaced until 2020 at the very earliest so despite its history the SL Venna be built for the future to make sure it doesn't feel like they feed in a decade's time mix Amy's finest technical boffins have been a work in fact this SL is something of a revolution from its ad this is the first SL to be built with an aluminium body shop and the big headline is that compared with a steel body this aluminium version weighs 140 kilograms less than the current replaces thanks to its true new body fuel economy is 30% better than before and with less mass lumbering around it handling should be tighter to house SL stands for sporty and light I don't have a little play civic stands up to its name in all the rears moving car really clean with feeling and I can waddle the wheel around I mean what was that I had no warning just going to take that the steering has got a deadness to it where I can't really feel the road no idea where the grip levels are really and this guy is fitted with a pretty heavy weight option 5000 pounds with the babies for suspension and attending is doing a lot 5,000 pounds were score suspension I don't think so so why don't we try something else that's putting little water now it makes a bit more sense it's a car for cruising around looking groovy what's the nice little features are going to have this hot air blowing across the back of your neck things are just a million different ways it's really smooth it's very refined it's pretty nice now philippi mirror-like another look oh that's perfect a surefire future-proofing technique is to make the car enormous mistake with companies like Volvo already developing their self-driving uncrashable car Mercedes had to react they say the SL is the world's safest roadster it will alert you if it thinks you're getting tied a trying will go off and it will display a coffee cup meaning go and get a broom wait up a bit it's also got collision avoidance where we'll jump on the brakes if it thinks you are going to happen and if all that fails it'll prime the airbags adjust the seat belts to give me a soft landing then just before the crash it'll adjust the headrest to prevent whiplash all and it also turn on the interior lights after the crash yes I can check me blue-rinse up a bit there is one very fundamental problem with this car and that is that the ignition key is in the wrong place it's exactly where money would be so not only am i banging the key when I'm going along but it's also possible like to turn the engine off of it engines off no ain't no throttle power engine engines back alive barmy neutral then put into D naught goodness a DS why have you put the key then then we come to the options list cars are being fitted with more more ludicrously expensive optional extras and Merc when our not holding back let me introduce you to something called and I kid you not magic sky control for two thousand six hundred and ten pounds I can turn the sky from a slanting dog to a bit lighter and vice versa also this car features massaging seats for one thousand seven hundred and twenty five pounds it's got 14 speakers instead of eight for one thousand one hundred and fifty pounds a 75 litre fuel tank instead of a 60 meter one for 110 pounds but where's the analog clock that he turned in 10 quid add up the extras on this particular excel 350 and the price rises from 72 to 90,000 pounds spectra spec is about five grand more when it's BMW 6-series rival Mercedes expect this base model with its v6 engine to be their best seller it's a really nice love it's very smooth very refined it's got a really nice engine though compared to our bundles of torque or want to get up in the Red Sea quick enough that's not the point is it you know this is a list of states done this is a term you need to be a sensitive another thing six or be okay your honor that being snarling fire-breathing spitting v8 beast of a motor for me this just isn't a sports car but if you can get past that fact it is beautifully engineered it looks really groovy it's a car for posing and cruising around and it does that very well youhere's something very rare in a motoring world a brand-new Mercedes SL because despite first going on sale way back in 1954 this is only the sixth new model in his iconic history now instead of looking back in comparing this car to its famous predecessors I'm going to look at it the other way it's unlikely to be replaced until 2020 at the very earliest so despite its history the SL Venna be built for the future to make sure it doesn't feel like they feed in a decade's time mix Amy's finest technical boffins have been a work in fact this SL is something of a revolution from its ad this is the first SL to be built with an aluminium body shop and the big headline is that compared with a steel body this aluminium version weighs 140 kilograms less than the current replaces thanks to its true new body fuel economy is 30% better than before and with less mass lumbering around it handling should be tighter to house SL stands for sporty and light I don't have a little play civic stands up to its name in all the rears moving car really clean with feeling and I can waddle the wheel around I mean what was that I had no warning just going to take that the steering has got a deadness to it where I can't really feel the road no idea where the grip levels are really and this guy is fitted with a pretty heavy weight option 5000 pounds with the babies for suspension and attending is doing a lot 5,000 pounds were score suspension I don't think so so why don't we try something else that's putting little water now it makes a bit more sense it's a car for cruising around looking groovy what's the nice little features are going to have this hot air blowing across the back of your neck things are just a million different ways it's really smooth it's very refined it's pretty nice now philippi mirror-like another look oh that's perfect a surefire future-proofing technique is to make the car enormous mistake with companies like Volvo already developing their self-driving uncrashable car Mercedes had to react they say the SL is the world's safest roadster it will alert you if it thinks you're getting tied a trying will go off and it will display a coffee cup meaning go and get a broom wait up a bit it's also got collision avoidance where we'll jump on the brakes if it thinks you are going to happen and if all that fails it'll prime the airbags adjust the seat belts to give me a soft landing then just before the crash it'll adjust the headrest to prevent whiplash all and it also turn on the interior lights after the crash yes I can check me blue-rinse up a bit there is one very fundamental problem with this car and that is that the ignition key is in the wrong place it's exactly where money would be so not only am i banging the key when I'm going along but it's also possible like to turn the engine off of it engines off no ain't no throttle power engine engines back alive barmy neutral then put into D naught goodness a DS why have you put the key then then we come to the options list cars are being fitted with more more ludicrously expensive optional extras and Merc when our not holding back let me introduce you to something called and I kid you not magic sky control for two thousand six hundred and ten pounds I can turn the sky from a slanting dog to a bit lighter and vice versa also this car features massaging seats for one thousand seven hundred and twenty five pounds it's got 14 speakers instead of eight for one thousand one hundred and fifty pounds a 75 litre fuel tank instead of a 60 meter one for 110 pounds but where's the analog clock that he turned in 10 quid add up the extras on this particular excel 350 and the price rises from 72 to 90,000 pounds spectra spec is about five grand more when it's BMW 6-series rival Mercedes expect this base model with its v6 engine to be their best seller it's a really nice love it's very smooth very refined it's got a really nice engine though compared to our bundles of torque or want to get up in the Red Sea quick enough that's not the point is it you know this is a list of states done this is a term you need to be a sensitive another thing six or be okay your honor that being snarling fire-breathing spitting v8 beast of a motor for me this just isn't a sports car but if you can get past that fact it is beautifully engineered it looks really groovy it's a car for posing and cruising around and it does that very well you\n"