Press Release
Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Body & Interior
Page 4: Engines & Transmissions
Page 5: Chassis
Page 6: Tradition
Page 7: Specifications
Body and interior: Perfectly tailored for two
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Vario-roof: from coupé to roadster in just 16 seconds
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Boot: easier to load, increased capacity
When it comes to the design and development of open two-seaters, few, if any, car manufacturers can draw on such a wealth of experience as Mercedes-Benz. The SL-Class, which was launched in October 2001, is synonymous with the remarkable capacity for innovation which characterises the brand with the three-pointed star.
Vario-roof: from coupé to roadster in just 16 seconds
With the vario-roof, which had its world première in 1996 in the SLK-Class Roadster, Mercedes-Benz set new trends in the development of open-top motoring. At the touch of a button the folding hardtop turns the two-seater from an open-air summer roadster into a car for all seasons with the practicality and low noise level of a coupé. The Mercedes engineers have perfected the technology behind this brilliant idea in the SL-Class and have developed an even more space-saving concept in order to minimise the impact on the boot capacity. The transformation from roadster to coupé (or vice-versa) takes just 16 seconds.
Movement: folding mechanism for C-pillars, rear windscreen and boot lid
The vario-roof consists essentially of three moving elements, which are connected with one another by an elaborate folding mechanism:
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The dual-shell roof element in aluminium or (as an optional extra) glass
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The two C-pillars with inner and outer shells
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The rear windscreen with four-millimetre thick single-layer safety glass
As in the SLK Roadster the boot lid is also part of the system. Featuring a hinge function with seven joints and an integrated tubular frame, the lid tilts back automatically, allowing the roof elements to fold away fully into the load compartment. A two-piece, moving cover and two flaps which cover the area between the roll-over bar, side wall and boot lid on both sides, are also part of the vario-roof mechanism.
Those seeking a sense of freedom and openness with the roof closed can specify the optional glass variant of the vario-roof and treat themselves to a unique panoramic view. This optional extra creates a glass surface which extends from the windscreen over the whole roof and back as far as the rear windscreen.
The hydraulics: eleven cylinders and a high-pressure pump at work
Both the glass and aluminium variants are operated using the same remarkable and innovative folding mechanism. Consisting largely of die-cast aluminium painted black, it is located in the side walls of the bodyshell. A hydraulic pump and a total of eleven electrically-controlled hydraulic cylinders are used to operate the vario-roof. By either pulling back the redesigned aluminium-look switch on the centre tunnel or – when outside the SL sports car - pressing the button on the electronic ignition key, the driver sets in motion a process which can quite justifiably be described as a masterpiece of modern technology:
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Phase 1 |
The fastenings on the roof frame and on the tubular frame of the boot lid are released. The roll-over bar is lowered, if necessary. |
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Phase 2 |
The boot lid tilts back. The rear side windows open. The front side windows slide down a few centimetres. |
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Phase 3 |
The "parcel shelf" folds away and the side covers fold out of the boot lid. The roof opens. The rear windscreen rotates around its own axis. |
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Phase 4 |
The roof, rear window and C-pillars disappear into the boot. The roll-over bar is erected, if it was in this position before the roof was opened. |
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Phase 5 |
The "parcel shelf", the tubular frame of the boot lid and side flaps are closed into place. The front side windows close again. |
Boot: greater capacity, even easier to load
The rotational movement performed by the rear screen allows the curved surfaces of the roof and rear screen to lie close to each other in the boot. This gives the SL-Class a boot capacity of 235 litres (in accordance with the VDA measuring method) when the vario-roof is open – sufficient space for the luggage of most occupants. The vario-roof therefore only reduces the boot capacity by around a third (capacity when roof closed: 317 litres). The removable luggage cover, which increases the capacity of the boot by 22 litres to provide 339 litres of luggage space (more than any other vehicle in this segment) is included as standard with immediate effect. The luggage cover, which can be removed quickly and easily, not only increases the capacity of the boot, but also makes loading considerably easier and enhances usability.
The "Easy-Pack" system makes using the boot even more comfortable and convenient: when the roof is open, simply pressing a red button on the right-hand side of the boot panelling causes the folded vario-roof to tilt upwards by about 20 degrees, making the items of luggage stowed underneath easily accessible. When the luggage cover is closed again, another press of the red button returns the roof to its normal stowage position.
Additional operating comfort is offered by the optional remote boot-lid release system. Pressing the relevant button on the vehicle key, the boot lid or the interior panel of the driver's door triggers an electrical system which opens the boot entirely automatically. The opening process also causes the folded vario-roof to tilt upwards for easier access. Pressing the red button on the underside of the boot lid returns the vario-roof to its normal stowage position and then closes the boot lid.
Passive safety: everything one would expect from Mercedes-Benz
The occupants of the SL-Class are protected by the high-strength body structure as well as by two-stage airbags for both driver and passenger, head/thorax sidebags in the doors, integral seats, belt tensioners, belt-force limiters and the sensor-controlled automatic roll-over bar.
