New Mercedes SL: Have They Ruined It?

Film-making is a tricky business. It can be so easy for an Oscar-winning director to forgo all their natural Hollywood instincts and produce an absolute stinker that will become part of the annals of Rottentomatoes.com. Sequels like the many attributed to the Rambo and Exorcist series are visual proof that even the good directors can have days when they should rather have just stayed in bed. Upon gazing at the new Mercedes SL it is hard not be shocked, and it begs the question, is this American Pie 3?

Can controversial be good?

If one was to play the Hollywood image to Merc's SL history as a whole, it would be similar to that of James Bond. Both experienced their heyday in the 60s and 70s when they were the epitome of cool and have now hit a rather bad run of form. The original SL can still be counted as one of the most beautiful things to have not donned a bikini, whereas this 'model' (it seems idiotic calling it that) is the automotive equivalent of Borat's 'mankini'. It seems to combine many aspects of the current Merc range with the bastard throwbacks of old. The nose is a carbon copy of the one on the SLS whereas the car's elevated rear flanks evoke memories of the hideously obese SL's of the 90s.

Whilst the body seems to have undergone many botox treatments the mechanicals remain predictably Germanic i.e same engines, improved efficiency. Starting with just the 350 and the 500, the range will undoubtedly expand to include the SL63, the latest devilchild of the AMG skunkworks which promises to be a little more bearable with a purported 525+ hp under the hood. Fuel efficiency has now crept to over the 35mpg mark which means that the SL no longer takes its morning breakfast of unleaded with a shot of panda tears.

As is to be expected with Mercedes, and any German car to be honest, innovations abound. This time however none are game changing and all carry pitiful names. The first, Magic SkyControl, consists of an electrochromatic roof that changes from opaque to clear when a current is run through it. Turning this button will then turn your roof into a huge frosted glass window which should keep most Premiership footballers happy for the next few months. The second innovation is called Magic Vision where a heated  wiper blade ensures that no water actually splashes on the windscreen, curing a problem we never knew we had. Further tech showcases are present and worryingly all contain the 'Magic' moniker, which begs the question, has Fritz become a drug addict?

When all is said and done though, it is clear to see that the Germans haven't suddenly developed  a penchant for magic mushrooms or ecstasy, but have gone the way of James Bond post-Ian Fleming. Driven by their commercial ventures in the colonies, Mercedes have made the automotive equivalent of Daniel Craig. Great actor, awful screenplay.

The good ol' days