Author Topic: plant in Bremen starts production of new SLK and SL roadsters  (Read 5195 times)

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plant in Bremen starts production of new SLK and SL roadsters
« on: February 05, 2008, 11:11:03 AM »
Bremen ? The production of Mercedes-Benz roadsters at the Bremen plant is a tradition that goes back almost 20 years. The plant has been producing the SL-Class since 1989, and the SLK-Class since 1996. In 2008, Mercedes-Benz will write a new chapter in the success story of these premium sports cars, which began with the legendary gullwing 300 SL in 1954: the company will be presenting both models in a new design. Accordingly, the plant employees in Bremen have been preparing for months for the conversion of their production facilities, where they will be producing only the roadster models of the new generation from now on.
?The team in Bremen has so far built around 500,000 SLK and 350,000 SL roadsters for customers all over the world. We are proud of this success story, and we are looking forward to building the new roadsters here at our plant. We?re ideally set up for it,? says Peter Schabert, director of the Bremen plant.
The buildings in which the two roadsters will be produced are in the former ?Borgward? section of the Mercedes-Benz production plant in Bremen?s Sebaldsbr?ck district. The SLK and the SL will be produced on independent production lines during the body shop and assembly phases, and the bodies-in-white will be painted in a shared paint shop.
Schabert added: ?In recent months we?ve retooled our production equipment, carried out numerous production tests, and run intensive training sessions for our employees - all to ensure right from the start that we will deliver the top quality that customers expect from our vehicles made in Bremen.?
The Bremen plant is a center of excellence for open-top vehicles within Mercedes-Benz Cars. ?Our people in Bremen are the undisputed specialists when it comes to producing Mercedes-Benz convertibles,? Schabert adds. In addition to the SLK and SL roadsters, the CLK convertible is also built here.
The new SLK generation: more power, greater economy, more excitement
Thanks to approximately 650 newly developed components, the new SLK is even more dynamic than its predecessor and offers an even more thrilling driving experience. The most important changes in the vehicle?s appearance include new designs in the front and rear, as well as a precisely painstakingly modified interior. While performance has been boosted in some instances, all the engines use less fuel and thus generate lower emissions.
The new generation of the SL-Class: sportier than ever
The new generation SL-Class features a new design with the emphasis firmly on sportiness and effortless assurance, and its new direct steering system makes it even more responsive. At the same time, the world?s most successful premium roadster in its class offers enhanced safety and comfort. The SL 350 is powered by a newly developed sports car engine that features exceptionally high torque and delivers higher performance than its predecessor - in addition to consuming 0.4 liters less fuel per 100 kilometers. The new generation of the SL-Class will celebrate its public premiere at the International Motor Show in Geneva in March.
Orders for both models are now being taken by Mercedes-Benz dealers and sales partners, and delivery of the vehicles will start in April.