Mercedes Benz SL 550

Mercedes Benz SL 550
The Mercedes Sport-Leicht (SL) has carved itself an enviable niche, despite being neither light nor particularly sporty. Since the launch of the original in 1957, Mercedes has sold more than 633,000 SLs.

The R230 model of the SL that Mercedes-Benz introduced in 2001 has become the best-selling SL in history, and the U.S. accounts for more than half of its total worldwide sales. There was a time when the SL existed outside Mercedes' normal model program and such sales success might lead to years of continued production. After all, the R107 version continued almost unchanged from 1971-'89.

But in today's fad-crazed world, change is an obligation, not an option, so the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL arrives with a significant face-lift. The most obvious alterations are aesthetic, but there are also subtle revisions to the interior and the mechanical package. The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL550 and 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL600 reach U.S. showrooms in mid-May.

Back to the Future
Maybe it's a good thing the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL has changed. The understated and even slightly effeminate lines of the outgoing SL have been given a dramatic overhaul. The new nose is more aggressive and masculine, even strident. In ushering in this change, Mercedes is trying to blend styling cues from its current lineup — note the similarity of the new headlamps to those of the CLS and S-Class — with homage to the SL's past.

For example, the bold, six-point radiator grille recalls the SLs of the 1960s and '70s, while the power domes in the hood hint at the original 300SL of the 1950s. At the rear, a new aero diffuser beneath the bumper emphasizes the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL's sporting credentials, although its functional benefits are questionable. Some of the detailing, such as the gill-style air intakes in the front fenders, seems a little contrived, but there can be no denying that the new SL now has more visual presence than before.