You might have to get used to the looks, but the new SL is lighter, faster, more luxurious and promises to be even more agile that its predecessor.

Photos: Low Fai Ming

The Mercedes-Benz SL will hold the title of being the first car to be launched at the Garden's By The Bay. The luxurious convertible sports car was revealed to the media and customers. 

Weighing 140 kg less than its predecessor, this is the first SL to be made almost entirely from aluminium. This should be evident in the drive with more agile and sporty handling. Even better driving dynamics will come courtesy of the new BlueDIRECT engines, more powerful yet at the same time up to 29% more economical than the engines in the outgoing generation.

Other new features include the unique Frontbass system, which turns the luxury sports car into a concert hall regardless of whether the top is open or closed, and the highly efficient adaptive windscreen wipe/wash system MAGIC VISION CONTROL; it supplies water from the wiper blade to the windscreen –as required and depending on the direction of wipe.

The new SL will be available in 350 SL V6 with 306 bhp and 370 Nm and the range-topping 500 SL pushing 435 bhp and a whopping 700 Nm of pure V8 muscle.