SPY PHOTOS: Latest Mercedes SL Major Facelift

Expect SL major facelift next year

Mercedes has decided to let the current SL, which is already 6 years old, live for several more years before the all new SL Class takes it's place. With a minor facelift over a year and a half ago, Mercedes feels it needs to freshen the looks one more time and, hopefully, keep up the good sales figures by giving the SL a major facelift next year.

While some of you poseur Mercedes fans might say, "Hey, the current generation R230 is already six years old, the next generation should be out, now!" However, the real hard core Mercedes dweebs will say, "but if you know your SL history the previous R129 generation was on the market for 12 years, and the one before that, was 16 years". That's the equivalent of living 224 human years. However, with the dwindling attention spans of consumers, we can expect the next gen to not go quite as long, with an arrival in 2011.

Seen in the attached photos, test cars have been sighted in many different locations of various climates such as Scandinavia for its' cold weather and the dusty roads of the Mediterranean for warm weather testing.

The biggest change will be the CLS-style headlamps together with a new bumper and grille. Camouflage over the rear lamps is hiding a new shape and new diodes that are light emitting (LED).

Another feature already in the SLK that will finally come for the facelifted SL is the AIRSCARF, which is an air vent built into the headrest and blows warm air on your neck so you don't get cold when the top is down. How posh...

Engines are likely to remain the same as in the current model, but rumors are talking about a turbocharged version of the 350 engine with 354 bhp. Top of the line model will remain as the SL65 AMG with 612 bhp.

The photos are showing various prototypes as well as a computer image suggesting the new look of the next SL.