The all-new Mercedes-Benz SL hits town

Lightweight, athletic and luxurious are only some of the attributes that come to mind when seeing the brand new Mercedes-Benz SL which was launched by NBK Automobiles at Katara in Doha on the evening of October 15, 2012.

The event saw in attendance scores of clients, fans and media with the presence of Sheikh Nawaf Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Chairman and CEO of NBK Holding and Khaled Shaa’ban, GM of NBK Automobiles.

NBK Auto also launched the RFID system which will add further innovation to the company’s relationship with its clients. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is considered by many to be the future of retail customer loyalty owing to its capacity to allow for breakthrough shopping experiences.

RFID offers better service with notification when a specific client enters the showroom, real-time messages, recommendation of products or vehicle, ability to build a “wish-list” and faster sales transactions. Earlier in 2011, NBK Auto launched the QR Code as a way to add entertainment and innovation to its CRM systems. The company is today taking its customer experience one step further with the RFID in order to exceed their expectations with tailor-made services.

The new SL has been produced for the first time almost entirely from aluminium and weighs up to 140 kilograms less. The new BlueDIRECT engines are more powerful and up to 29 percent more economical. Other new features include the unique Frontbass system, which turns the luxury sports car into a concert hall and the highly efficient adaptive windscreen MAGIC VISION CONTROL.

Sheikh Nawaf Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani, Chairman and CEO of NBK said: “There are around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of models. But there are only a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them: it has class; it has style; it is the ultimate in comfort and luxury. But it combines all that with incredible sportiness and dynamism. You would struggle to find a car that embodies Gottlieb Daimler’s aspiration more perfectly than the new SL: the best or nothing.”

Khaled Shaa’ban, General Manager of NBK Auto said: “With the completely redeveloped SL, Mercedes-Benz continues a tradition that began 60 years ago. The letters “SL” have ever since been synonymous with a symbiosis of sportiness, style and comfort. In short, anyone that talks about the new SL is bound to be talking about the ultimate in passionate, refined motoring.”

“The RFID technology is a testament to our strong commitment to keep innovating our services wherever our clients are. It is getting tougher to cultivate customer loyalty and loyalty programs need to offer more than general discounts; they need to create a personalized experience while recognizing individual customers, offering special treatment, and delivering surprises to keep people coming back.” added Shaa’ban. 

Appendix: About the all-new SL

Lighter and more rigid: sophisticated all-aluminium bodyshell

The new-generation Mercedes-Benz SL takes the meaning of the letters “SL” – super, lightweight – literally. The new SL 500 weighs around 125 kilograms less and the SL 350 is 140 kilograms lighter.

Driving pleasure: frugal, powerful BlueDIRECT engines and agile suspension

The new electromechanical Direct-Steer system ensures excellent stability and assuredness. The V8 in the SL 500 develops 435 hp with up to to 22 percent less fuel consumption and a torque of 700 Nm. The V6 in the new SL 350 develops 306 hp and delivers 370 Nm of torque. The SL comes with ECO start/stop function and the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. The SL 350 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and the SL 500 takes just 4.6 seconds.

Interior and design: aesthetic, stylish, sporty

The new SL combines its aesthetically honed profile with a luxurious feel. Fine materials distinguish the style of the interior. Generously used wood trim extends from the centre console across the dashboard into the doors. Other hallmarks of the SL balanced proportions include: a long bonnet; a wide, powerful rear end; elaborately styled and finely worked lines; grilles with chromed fins.

Other features:

• Vario-roof: The roof can be retracted in 20 seconds with three versions: painted, with glass roof or with the unique panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL.
• HANDS-FREE ACCESS: ‘kick’ to open: Provides hands-free, contactless operation of the boot lid.
• The safest roadster: PRE-SAFE^® and other assistance systems make the SL the world’s safest roadster. The rigid aluminium bodyshell forms a sturdy compartment with driver and front passenger airbags, NECK-PRO head restraint and headbags. A thorax airbag protects the upper body. More safety innovations include the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST and the ADAPTIVE BRAKE.

• Active Parking Assist: Identifies parking spaces and steers the vehicle into the space while parking.
• Infotainment: COMAND with internet access: The “Cockpit Management and Data System” COMAND includes: Bluetooth; COMAND Online with internet and DVD changer; the option of sending destinations and routes via Google Maps; new apps: news app, Facebook app and apps for share prices and a car park finder. Both COMAND versions feature high-resolution colour display.