The all-new, sixth generation Mercedes-Benz SL is set to hit Irish shores within the next few weeks. The lightweight, aluminium framed roadster will be offered with two engine options - the 3.5-litre V6, 302hp SL 350 and the 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 SL 500 that boasts 429hp. The flagship car will be able to hit 100km/h from standstill in 4.6 seconds, but thanks to the weight savings, a seven-speed automatic transmission and standard stop-start, is 12 per cent more efficient than its predecessor. This figure jumps to 22 per cent for the SL 350.
Built to mark the 60th anniversary of the original SL the new car is longer and wider than its predecessor with a long bonnet and the passenger compartment set far back to enhance the sporty look. Optional items include a panoramic sunroof, which switches to light or dark at the push of a button.
Prices for the new SL have yet to be confirmed but Ciaran Allen, passenger sales manager for Ireland, expects the SL 350 - likely to the most popular model in Ireland - to come with a sub €135,000 price tag. This figure would represent a ten per cent drop over its predecessor and the new car will also come with cheaper road tax of €481 per year (Band D), a far cry from the four-figure sum of old.