Despite snowy conditions for the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this February 11-18, 2010, the Bryant Park tents are red hot with the New York debut of the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and E-Class Cabriolet.
While not on sale until spring 2010 and a yearlong wait list, the 2011 SLS AMG is the most eagerly anticipated sports car to hit the international car market. Its first New York appearance is the runway shows in Bryant Park, a backdrop worthy of its status given the 60 plus designers showcasing their fall collections and more than 100,000 attendees expected to descend on the tents for this "fair well" season before the shows move to Lincoln Center in September.
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG with its iconic gullwing doors and innovative technology draws design inspiration from the 1954 300 SL "Gullwing" first introduced at the New York Auto Show nearly 56 years ago. The SLS AMG is the first car developed from the ground up by AMG, Mercedes-Benz wholly owned performance car builders, and is available in nine distinct paint colors - ranging from the AMG Le Mans Red to AMG Monza Grey Magno to AMG Alubeam Silver, a new paintwork process used nowhere else in the world that lets paint shine like liquid metal.
The sporty interior of the SLS AMG features a central "aviation engineering" design theme and is reflected in the wing-shaped dashboard, the center console in the style of a jet's operating console, and four air-vents reminiscent of aircraft engines. The sport seats are upholstered in hand-sewn, single-tone Designo leather with a choice of seven different color combinations including seat stitching and piping.
The SLS AMG engine is built on the overall AMG principle of "one man, one engine," where every single engine is handcrafted from start to finish by a single Master Mechanic at the high-tech plant in Alfalterbach, Germany. The SLS AMG 6.2-liter, front-mid V8 engine creates 563 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque propelling the super sports car from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds.
Innovative design at the tents is not limited to the SLS AMG, but also the 2011 E-Class Cabriolet, the newest Mercedes-Benz open top, two-door, four-passenger convertible that joins the highly successful 9th generation E-Class line of sedans, coupes and wagons.
In keeping with the motto "four seasons, four people," year-round usability was top priority for engineering the new E-Cabriolet. Features that ensure four season, open-top driving fun include the electric AIRCAP® wind deflector. This new system is deployed at the touch of a button, and greatly reduces wind turbulence inside the vehicle's cabin while creating a pool of warm air around the occupants. AIRCAP® eliminates the installation procedure for conventional wind deflectors, retains accessibility to both rear seats, and doesn't spoil the clean lines of the Cabriolet's side profile image. Optional equipment includes the next-generation AIRSCARF® heating system integrated into the front seat backrests, which blows warm air from adjustable vents in the head restraints to warm the neck and shoulder area like an invisible scarf.
Comfortable travel with the roof closed is ensured by a sound-dampening soft-top, which comes standard and provides a high level of sound insulation. With the roof closed, the E-Class Cabriolet is one of the quietest interiors in its class. The roof can be opened or closed at the touch of a button within 20 seconds – and even while driving at speeds of up to 25 mph.
The new Cabriolet also offers the most extensive safety equipment package in this vehicle category with innovations one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Highlights include roll-over protection, reinforced A-pillars and B-pillars and seven standard airbags with the first Mercedes Cabriolet to feature headbags, which are housed in the door paneling.
"Beyond the fully redesigned exterior, the amount of new safety and lifestyle features in this four-seat convertible will provide enjoyment and peace of mind for those that love top down driving," said Lisa Holladay, Manager, Brand Experience Marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA. "This convertible is the equivalent of having the perfect black dress that's right for any occasion."
