Since 1954, Mercedes-Benz has sold a car badged as an SL model. That “SL” designation originally meant “sport leicht,” or sports lightweight in English. But in recent years with the base Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster ballooning to more than two tons, it carried the SL name in spirit only.
Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz seems to be backtracking a little with its history and heritage, putting those two little letters to work again. Employing extensive use of aluminum throughout the next-generation SL roadster, Mercedes-Benz says the car will lop 300 pounds from its weight. Best of all, the German automaker is more than happy to show just how it’s doing it.
Most automakers keep the development of future models under tight wraps. Not so with Mercedes-Benz this time, as it is proudly flaunting working prototypes of the cars testing and their uncovered bodies for the world to see. The company has said the car will feature plenty of new luxury features for its well-to-do clientele including spray-on insulation that will make the car quieter than the current model, doors that will open—and stay open—at any angle, and a zinc coating to prevent corrosion on any steel bits left on the car.
It will also have windshield wipers the company is calling “magic vision” that will virtually eliminate limited visibility due to water on the front window, especially when using the washers. The wipers will have a heated function for cold weather in addition to having built-in ducts that collect and channel excess water off the windshield, which can be programmed to work differently for summer and winter driving. The next SL will also have an acoustically-tuned footwell to better reverberate the car’s subwoofer, optimized for when the top is either up or down.
