The Mercedes SL will be built using carbonfibre reinforced plastics from 2012.
Daimler AG has partnered with Toray Industries, a Japanese textile maker, to develop and produce car parts made from carbon fiber composite materials. Toray will produce the car parts at its factory in France. The partnership with Daimler marks the first time Toray will actually be producing carbon fiber car parts, although the company did supply Ferrari with carbon yarn.
The 2012 SL Roadster will also derive its DNA from the sturdy spaceframe made from aluminum like the one used for the supercar SLS Gullwing, and most of its components and hardware.
Details about the powertrain of the new Benz are very limited but we can expect a 3.5L V6 that can output about 306 horsepower. There will also be a lineup of V8 engines which may include the bi turbo 5.5L designated to the AMG version. Or who knows a ...