Rides : 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL – first images and details

The new generation of the popular Mercedes-Benz SL is almost here and with the roadster bringing a lot of new things to its future customers, the first details and images have emerged.

Even if there’s no official word on the new generation of the SL from the German based automaker, Mercedes-Benz is planning to adopt an aluminum intensive design which is supposed to drop the weight of the roadster by 140 kilograms or 310 pounds compared to the current model. Besides losing some important weight, the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL will become 20 percent more rigid thanks to hydroformed beams and chilled cast longitudinal members.
The 2012 SL is expected to come with a new system called the Magic Vision Control which will integrate the windshield washer nozzles into the wiper blades to ensure that the fluid won’t be sprayed into the cabin when the top will be dropped. The new Front Bass sound system will also be fitted onto the 2012 SL with its two subwoofers mounted in the footwells for improved audio quality. Sadly there’s no word yet on the possible powerplants which might make it onto the new generation of the SL but Mercedes-Benz says that the fuel efficiency will be improved by 30 percent.
The Mercedes-Benz SL has been in production ever since 1954 and the fifth generation has received a facelift back in 2008. The most recent Mercedes-Benz SL comes with a choice of seven engine configurations, starting with the 3.5 liter V6 and ending with the 6.0 liter V12, generating 670 horsepower.