Dream Cars and Their Design

According to Kintaro Ueno, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Japan, "Coupes, cabriolets, and roadsters, which symbolize Mercedes' tradition, are models that allow customers to feel the excitement of driving and the joy of ownership more keenly. We call them 'dream cars.'" He stated that including these three new models, a total of 10 dream car models across 35 variants are currently available in the Japanese market.

Achim Diettrich Padschtuptner, Senior Manager of Exterior Design at Daimler's German headquarters, who visited Japan for this announcement, described Mercedes' new design philosophy as "Modern Luxury." He explained that it "fuses contrasting elements such as passion and intellect, luxury and modernity, sensuality and purity, according to the character and role of each model lineup," and that these are "expressed through proportions, surface design, and details." The three models announced this time were also designed based on this philosophy.

The S-Class Cabriolet Returns After More Than 40 Years

According to Mr. Padschtuptner, "This is a car that appears perhaps once in a lifetime. With its debut, it will instantly become a collector's item."S-Class CabrioletIndeed, the previous generation was the W111 (1961-1971), making this a return after more than 40 years.

When the soft top is closed, the side view evokes a coupe-like style. Like other S-Class models, it features a "dropping line" where the character line descends towards the rear, and the side windows retract completely.

The soft top has a three-layer structure and is available in three colors: black, dark blue, and dark red. It can be opened or closed in approximately 20 seconds while driving at speeds below 50 km/h. Incidentally, the soft top is stored in the trunk, and a thoughtful feature ensures it is automatically housed within a luggage cover to prevent any dirt from soiling the luggage.

Naturally, various measures have been taken to mitigate wind turbulence when the top is down. The "Air Cap" installed above the front windshield directs airflow upward, reducing wind buffeting from the rear. Furthermore, based on information from the sunlight sensor and interior thermometer, it detects temperature changes associated with roof operation and automatically adjusts the temperature and fan speed accordingly. Heaters are also integrated into the door armrests, center armrests, steering wheel, and seats, significantly enhancing comfort during winter.

The models introduced in Japan are the "S 550 Cabriolet" with a 4.7-liter V8 direct-injection twin-turbo engine, the Mercedes-AMG "S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet" with a 5.5-liter V8 direct-injection twin-turbo engine, and the Mercedes-AMG "S 65" with a 6.0-liter V12 twin-turbo engine. Prices are ¥21.45 million, ¥27.50 million, and ¥34.17 million, respectively, with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-October 2016.

The SL Features Changes Primarily to its Front End

The current sixth generation "SL-Class" has received a facelift, with changes mainly to the front. The history of the SL dates back to the 1952 racing car, the "300SL." This model served as the basis for production cars like the "300SL Gullwing" that debuted in 1954 and achieved numerous race victories. One such triumph was in the grueling "La Carrera Panamericana" held in Mexico. The 300SL's victory in this demanding race is still celebrated today. The front grille of the new SL is inspired by the grille of the "300SL Panamericana" that won the race. Mr. Padschtuptner noted that its flared shape gives it a distinctive front design within the Mercedes lineup, while simultaneously "asserting its heritage of a long history."

In terms of driving dynamics, a notable addition is the Dynamic Curve function for the Active Body Control (ABC) suspension, which tilts the car inward during cornering, similar to a motorcycle. ABC is a system that electronically controls the suspension of each wheel instantaneously by sensing the vehicle's movements during acceleration, deceleration, and cornering, as well as the vehicle's weight including occupants, to keep the car level. The Dynamic Curve function further enhances this by lowering the inner wheel and raising the outer wheel during cornering, allowing occupants to remain more stable. As a result, driving stability and comfort have been further improved.

Mr. Ueno stated, "SL is an abbreviation for 'Super Light,' and as the name suggests, the new SL pursues a refined and agile driving experience, featuring a full aluminum body shell that achieves high rigidity and the highest level of safety despite its light weight."

Four variants will be introduced in Japan, ranging from the "SL 400" with a new 3.0-liter V6 direct-injection twin-turbo engine to the Mercedes-AMG "SL 65." Prices start at ¥12.65 million.

The SLC Appeals to Younger Buyers as the SL's Younger Sibling

"The first generation of theSLC" was the "SLK," an open-top car featuring a retractable hardtop called "vario-roof," which debuted in 1996.The current third generationwas a hit, ranking number one in the imported convertible market for three consecutive years from 2011 to 2014.

This facelift includes minor changes to the rear design, along with the addition of the "SLC 180" equipped with a new 1.6-liter inline 4-cylinder Blue DIRECT turbo engine, and the Mercedes-AMG "SLC 43" with a 3-liter V6 twin-turbo engine. The name has been changed to SLC, combining "SL" (referring to Mercedes' open-top models) with "C" (representing the class).

Regarding the SLC, Mr. Padschtuptner said, "The fresh and appealing SLC is a dream car that is accessible to younger people." He added, "As the SLC is the younger sibling of the SL, it carries a deep history and tradition in its background."

Other changes include the addition of an automatic trunk cover that automatically covers the roof to prevent luggage from getting dirty when the roof is stowed, and a function that adjusts the exhaust sound according to the driving mode.

Prices start at ¥5.30 million. Notably, with this facelift,manual transmissionhas been removed from the catalog.