What’s New?
The SL-Class has been updated for 2007 with a new three-level grille, deeper front air dam, clear tail lamps, new interior colors, new wheel designs, and a more direct steering feel. It also gets more powerful engines and a special 50th Anniversary Edition to honor the launch of the first 300SL roadster in the 1950s.

Overview
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class of two-seat roadsters with retractable hardtops is the descendent of the famed 300SL “Gullwing” Mercedes racing cars of the mid-1950s. In fact, 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the first 300SL roadster model with a convertible top, and thus 550 special anniversary SL550 models will be built—each with pewter metallic exterior paint, cognac brown leather seating, and black ash interior wood trim.

The SL is available as the SL500, SL600, and high-performance SL55 and SL65 AMG models. Standard comfort and convenience features include the retractable hardtop roof, leather seating, hand-polished wood trim, 12-way heated seats, a multi-function steering wheel with tilt and telescoping column, dual-zone climate controls, a navigation and DVD audio system with 8-speaker Bose AudioPilot surround sound, satellite radio, and a hands-free phone connection. Safety equipment includes front/side/knee air bags, Xenon headlamps, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, a tire-pressure-monitoring system, and an automatic rollover bar.

The SL550 carries a 382-hp, 5.5-liter V-8 engine. The SL600 gets a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V-12 that pumps out 510 hp. The SL55 AMG is propelled by a hand-built and supercharged 5.5-liter V-8 that produces 510 hp. The SL65 AMG has a supercharged 6.0-liter V-12 that provides an astounding 604 hp. The SL chassis features Active Body Control (ABC), the Mercedes-Benz active-suspension technology that is engineered to eliminate body roll in cornering, squat under acceleration, and dive during braking.

The Competition
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class competes in the Midsize Premium Sporty segment, which consists of seven models. Buyers in this segment look for performance, exterior styling, and quality, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,SM were the Chevrolet Corvette (36,518 units sold), Porsche 911 (12,045), and Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (8,462). The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class’ 8,462 sales in 2006 represent a decrease of 16.1 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Premium Sporty segment include the Lexus SC-Series, Cadillac Escalade XLR , Dodge Viper, and Maserati Coupe/Spyder.