2011 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Best Luxury Sport Car

Developed as a racecar, coveted as a sports car, and cherished for generations as a dream car, no other automobile can claim its history of innovation, imagination and adoration. When did it first take hold of your heart? Was it hurtling around a track, poised on the auto show carpet, or just courting your glance from a neighbor’s driveway? Wherever it started, you remember. And ever since, you’ve envisioned yourself behind the wheel, top-down, irresistibly drawn toward the horizon by the persuasive pull of its engine and a gentle sunny breeze at your back. This is not just a sports car. It’s a Mercedes-Benz sports car. Born to capture the checkered flag. Engineered to romance the road. For 57 years, destined to fuel your love of driving. This is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Drivers can’t resist a car that’s drawn to the road. It introduced fuel injection to the world in 1954. Today, its Active Body Control (ABC) system is arguably the most advanced suspension in production. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class has a heritage of elevating performance while deepening the allure of its iconic design. True to its legend, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 satisfies the unending desires of drivers with an enduring devotion to technological innovation. From its athletically gifted handling to the acrobatic precision of its retractable hardtop, its every maneuver is engineered to move you.

Well-defined muscle. Dual trapezoidal exhaust tips resonate a mellow rumble as the 382‑hp 5.5‑liter V‑8 sweeps you to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. Power is conducted via a driver-adaptive 7‑speed automatic with Touch Shift control and paddle shifters. Gripping style. Staggered-width " 5‑spoke alloy wheels and high-performance tires expertly balance surefooted acceleration with precise steering control. Optional " AMG wheels include perforated rear brakes, plus dark-tinted headlamps and taillamps.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Active agility. ABC instantly adapts to driving conditions for crisp cornering with silky comfort. It also automatically lowers the car as speed rises and offers two selectable Sport modes. A new Direct-steer system sharpens feedback in tight turns. Able-bodied. High-strength/low-alloy steel reinforces its
unmistakably sculpted physique. From its power-retractable aluminum hardtop to its aerodynamic lower bodywork, the SL-Class asserts its performance prowess with seductive style.

As much fun as the 2011 SL‑Class brings to an open road on a sunny day, its advanced engineering helps you feel confident and cared-for in moments of darkness or duress. The brakes automatically act to keep their discs dry in the rain, and pre-charge for faster reaction if you lift off the gas quickly. A pop-up roll bar  an SL innovation deploys in 0.3 seconds should it sense an imminent rollover.3 If any of its five air bags deploy, its new Mercedes-Benz mbrace system can call for help. With mbrace, new worlds of security and convenience await you. Like using Google Maps to send destinations from your home computer to your car’s navigation system. Or locking and unlocking your doors with your smartphone. Engineered to protect you, the 2011 SL‑Class is equally devoted to pleasing you.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Optional DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control actively monitors your following distance from the vehicle ahead of you. Originally pioneered by Mercedes-Benz, it can automatically apply the brakes and resume your preset speed when traffic opens up. The SL’s standard Bi‑Xenon headlamps incorporate Active Curve Illumination, which swivels the beams according to your driving speed and steering angle. They increase usable illumination of curving roads by up to 90% over conventional fixed headlamps.

The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class converts from secure hardtop coupe to freedom-loving open roadster in 16 seconds, using either a console-mounted switch or a button on the SmartKey remote. The rear window pivots 180° to help preserve usable trunk space with the top stowed.

 Intimate pairings are the hallmark of a sports-car cockpit. Two contoured, multi-adjustable seats divided by a sweeping console sumptuously envelop you and your passenger. Classically contemporary instruments connect car to driver, readable at a glance, yet rewarding to your lingering gaze. Supple top-stitched leather complements hand-polished wood, creating an air of sporty elegance. While advanced, user-friendly technology fills that air with lush music and temperate breezes. The cabin of the SL‑Class delivers a perfect union a balance of spirited exuberance and free-spirited escapism.

2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class INTERIOR

 The new 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Feature Heated 12‑way power seats are hand-fitted in soft leather and offer pneumatic lumbar support. The optional Premium Package adds Active Ventilated seats with precise multicontour adjustment and a soothing massage feature. The COMAND system integrates navigation and audio with a color-LCD screen, 40GB hard drive and advanced voice control. A Bluetooth interface, SIRIUS Traffic with real-time updates, and Zagat Survey ratings for restaurants, hotels and golf courses offer unexpected delights on any drive.

The 10‑speaker, 510‑watt harman/kardon LOGIC sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1 automatically adapts for speed and top-down driving. SIRIUS Satellite Radio, HD Radio, iPod integration, a 6‑DVD/CD player, in-dash memory card reader and 4GB of music storage are all included. The optional Trim Package further enriches the SL 550 cockpit. Seats are dressed in smooth, supple Premium leather, while hand-polished wood trim elegantly accents the multifunction steering wheel and shift knob. The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Prices MSRP $102,600 - $198,750.