Fearing competition from MCLN, Mercedes ups the ante!!
Mercedes-Benz to Unleash Supercharged Sl55 AMG Roadster
New Roadster Compresses Time with over 465 Horsepower
NEW YORK, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot on the heels of the all-new,
award-winning SL500 roadster, Mercedes-Benz unveils the SL55 AMG roadster to
arrive in the U.S. this fall. Brimming with performance, this new SL55 AMG
uses a newly-developed, hand-built, 5.5-liter supercharged engine with over
465 horsepower to catapult itself to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds from rest,
making it the fastest production Mercedes-Benz ever. The SL55 AMG also
provides racing-derived braking power to match the horsepower. Immense vented
brake discs at each corner and calipers are engineered with the industry's
first electronic braking system, stopping the SL55 AMG with racecar-like
ability. Similarly, the SL55 AMG uses a further evolution of Mercedes' ABC
active suspension to imbue the car with cat-like handling reflexes while
simultaneously offering ride comfort to surpass any competitor.
The new SL55 AMG will be the latest in the highly successful SL line,
which began in 1954 with the legendary "Gullwing" 300SL. The 2003
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG is a technological tour de force, with ABC active
suspension and ESP stability control, plus the world's first electronic brake
system. The new SL55 AMG also boasts breathtaking styling, capped by a
retractable hardtop that combines the open-air fun of a convertible with the
quiet comfort of a coupe.
Visually, the SL55 AMG employs aggressive looks with sculpted rocker
panels and rear valence capped off with four chrome exhaust tips and generous
5-spoke, 18-inch forged alloy wheels. The SL55 AMG also tours the world as
the Formula 1 Safety Car.
V8 Kompressor -- The Dual-Personality Powerhouse
Each SL55 AMG engine makes a towering 465-plus hp and a truly massive 516
lbs.-ft. of torque, making easy work of the 0-60 mph sprint in just
4.5 seconds. Every new SL55 AMG's 5.5-liter, supercharged and intercooled V8
engine is hand-assembled one at a time by expert technicians at Mercedes-AMG
in Affalterbach, Germany and is bench-tested to ensure performance. The newly
developed V8 engine uses a positive-displacement, Lysholm-type (or screw-type)
belt-driven supercharger with scrolling aluminum rotors, providing usable
boost virtually from idle speed, and generates a maximum of 11.6 psi boost
pressure (or 0.8 bar). The rotors are also Teflon-tipped for more positive
sealing and long life. The Kompressor V8 also uses a specially developed
crossflow air-to-water intercooler that reduces intake air temperature,
creating a denser charge. Other developments for the Kompressor V8 include a
fast-acting electronic throttle, revised cam timing, high-rate valve springs
and lightweight valves.
SpeedShift Gear Selection at the Steering Wheel
The SL55 AMG's prodigious torque requires a high-capacity five-speed
automatic transmission with SpeedShift programming that nets 35-percent
quicker gear changes. Those changes can also be accomplished by pressing
either of the two steering-wheel mounted shift buttons -- left side for
downshifts and right side for upshifts. If asked (by holding the gear lever
to the left when in Drive), the SpeedShift transmission can also automatically
downshift and can determine the best possible gear for maximum acceleration in
any situation. The SpeedShift transmission will also hold a selected gear
under high cornering loads, preventing an upshift in mid-corner. As well, a
lightweight torque converter can lock up in all forward gears when conditions
warrant. This makes for the liveliest, most dynamic performance possible when
needed, yet exhibits refinement when driving serenely under normal conditions.
Like all Mercedes-Benz cars, the SL55 AMG uses ESP stability control to
prevent skids and spins in poor weather driving. However, because the SL55
AMG shatters the performance envelope, ESP is programmed specifically for the
model, with the high power, handling grip, dynamics and braking performance
all playing a crucial role its new programming.
ABC Active Suspension Gives Cat-Like Agility
The new SL55 AMG's chassis uses a fully independent, double A-arm front
suspension and Mercedes-Benz' patented five-link rear suspension. The latter
is mated to a substantial steel subframe that takes the place of the SL500's
aluminum subframe due to the SL55 AMG's astounding performance levels. Most
importantly, the active suspension is Mercedes' revolutionary system that
virtually eliminates body roll in cornering, squat under acceleration and dive
during braking. The SL55 AMG uses new software programming specific to the
model, loosely akin to increasing the spring rates, shock damping and
anti-roll bar stiffness of a conventional suspension.
Mercedes-Benz engineers use ABC's interplay of hydraulic, electronic and
mechanical parts to reduce body roll by 68 percent (compared to the same
vehicle with a conventional suspension), providing the driver with needed
feedback through the vehicle chassis. A Sport switch on the center console
can alter this, further limiting roll to 95 percent reduced along with tighter
shock damping, if the driver prefers sportier handling. The active suspension
system uses four hydraulic servos (or pistons), one on top of each steel coil
spring, applying additional forces in response to split-second signals from
the ABC computers. Put simply, active suspension solves the traditional old
tradeoff between ride comfort and handling precision: The SL55 AMG exhibits
excellent comfort while offering league-leading handling.
Breathtaking, Racing-Derived Brakes with First Electronic Brake System
Because of the SL55 AMG's performance potential, Mercedes-AMG fits unique
braking hardware to the new sportster. All the brake rotors -- not just the
fronts -- are fully vented, and the front rotors measure a large 14.2 inches
in diameter, while the rear rotors are 13 inches. Clamping onto those
generous discs are eight-piston front calipers, a direct result of
Mercedes-AMG's Championship-repeating Touring Car racing program.
Mercedes-Benz, the company that invented ABS anti-lock brakes, traction
control and ESP stability control, also offers the world's first electronic
brake system to see production on SL500s, and also on next fall's SL55 AMG.
This system provides faster, more sure-footed brake response, especially in
emergencies.
The brake pedal works with a computer that tells four fast-acting valves
exactly how hard to apply the brakes on each wheel. A backup hydraulic master
cylinder comes into play only if there's a serious problem or electrical
failure. With split-second accuracy, the system can change brake pressure on
each wheel over uneven surfaces and can even increase brake pressure on just
the outside wheels when braking in turns, taking advantage of the higher
loading during cornering. Even ABS anti-lock and ESP stability control work
more efficiently since they are more deeply integrated with the brakes,
instead of functioning as parallel systems.
If the driver switches his foot quickly from accelerator to brake pedal,
the electronic brake system recognizes the early signs of an emergency
situation and reacts automatically. With the help of the high-pressure
reservoir, the system raises the pressure in the brake connectors and
instantaneously moves the pads onto the brake discs, which can then spring
into action with full force as soon as the brake pedal is pressed. At highway
speeds, this pre-loading of the braking system reduces stopping distance by
about three percent. In addition, the system automatically senses when the
road is wet and imperceptibly applies the brakes just enough to keep the discs
dry, so that brake operation remains fast and consistent in the rain.
From Coupe to Roadster in 16 Seconds
At the push of a button, the new SL55 AMG's retractable hardtop can be
fully opened or closed in just 16 seconds. As the power roof retracts, the
rear window glass "spoons" the stowed roof panel, providing a surprisingly
large cargo area of 8.3 cubic feet. With the top up, the trunk holds 11.2
cubic feet. A hydraulic pump and 11 computer-controlled hydraulic cylinders
power the system, and top operation is controlled by a distinctive switch on
the center console.
Driver and passenger benefit from new, highly bolstered sport seats.
Mercedes-AMG also fits the interior with new aluminum trim that has the same
texture and look as the sand-cast aluminum supercharger housing. This can be
augmented by additional wood trim at no charge. AMG gauges with silver dials
and an Alcantara headliner also adorn the functional, yet inviting interior.
With supercharged acceleration, handling agility, a top that folds in next to
no time and even a pop-up rollover bar that deploys in 0.3 of a second in
emergencies, the SL55 AMG compresses time.
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SOURCE Mercedes-Benz
/NOTE TO EDITORS: This story and high-resolution photos can bedown-loaded from
the MBUSA news-media website at : media.mbusa.com /
/CONTACT: Fred Heiler, +1-201-573-2245, or Jim Resnick, +1-201-573-4320,or
Toll-free, +1-888-MBNEWS-1, all of Mercedes-Benz/
/Web site: mbusa.com /
Mar-28-2002 17:00 GMT
Source PRN PR NewsWire
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