Public road tests of the new Mercedes-Benz 300 SL begin this week, including road trials on the A81 – just as they did on 12 March 1952 when Daimler-Benz AG engineers began road tests on that same Autobahn for the 300 SL (super-light).
69 years later, the eighth generation SL is in the final stages of development, following extensive digital simulation work, though Mercedes-AMG engineers will do most of their test driving on a special, closed-off proving ground in Sweden, for cold climate and low-friction tests.
Analogue assessment is still essential for some final dynamics tuning work, especially for the steering and the 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive system, which is being offered for the first time in the SL, for the 2021 modelThe dynamics of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG SL being assessed on low-friction roads in Sweden. In the next stage the engineers will undertake final refinement of the handling dynamics, on the north loop of the Nürburgring, amongst other locationsThe wintry, slippery regions of Sweden (near the Arctic Circle) are perfect for stretching the vehicle dynamics of the 2021MY Mercedes-AMG SL work, and indeed for assessing the redesigned fabric roof
Adam divides his time as an editor between the worlds of aviation and motoring. These worlds may seem a little diverse today, but autonomous technology and future urban mobility is bringing them ever-closer. Adam is also chairman of the Vehicle Dynamics International Awards.
