SL350 Night Edition: Merc goes matt-black again

A DOZEN more matt-black Mercedes-Benzes will be among 25 examples of the exclusive new SL350 Night Edition roadster to arrive Down Under from July.

The all-black (and, at least for Australia, all-six-cylinder) Night Edition treatment became available across the top-shelf hardtop convertible line-up in Germany from January, priced between €3700 and €5200 ($A5400-$7600) depending on the engine.

In Europe, Mercedes charges a further €3640 ($A5300) for its special ‘designo magno Night black’ matt exterior paint, which is similar to the glossless black finishes worn by a number of unique sportscars over the years, including Lamborghinis and Mercedes’ own superseded SLR McLaren.

Now, however, Mercedes has confirmed a single SL Night Edition model will hit Australian showrooms in just over a month priced at $246,000 (excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges) in either ‘Night’ matt black or ‘Obsidian’ metallic black, representing a $9000 premium over the entry-level SL350 upon which it is based.

The limited-edition SL’s matt-black hue is not unlike the unpolishable ‘designo magno Allanite grey’ paint that has been available from the AMG Performance Studio in Europe for a number of years and which was first seen here on just 10 examples of the unique C63-based ‘Edition 63’ sedan and wagon from last November.

Both special-editions carried a premium of at least $25,000 but added a range of mechanical upgrades, in addition to a host ‘designo’ cosmetic enhancements.

In the case of the SL350 Night Edition, extra equipment comes from across the SL range, a facelift for which arrived in Australia in June 2008.

Apart from the choice of matt or metallic black paint, the unique SL350 gains 19-inch five-spoke AMG alloy wheels with high-sheen titanium grey finish, silver-painted ‘Mercedes-Benz’ front brake callipers with cross-drilled discs all round, AMG-style darkened headlights, tail-lights and third brake light, high-gloss chromed shoulder line trim strips, high-gloss door-handles and ‘Night Edition’ front guard badges.

Inside, there are new seats in Nappa leather with diagonal fluting, arrow-shaped seams, silver-coloured contrast elements and ‘Night Edition’ badged seatbacks, plus black ash wood trim, ‘Mercedes-Benz’ door sill panels from the SL600, black leather with contrasting silver stitching for the sports steering wheel, gearshifter and door trims and ‘Night Edition’ embroidered floor mats.

Completing the exclusive package is a draught-stopper with high-gloss chrome trim strip, Distronic autonomous cruise control and a remote opening/closing bootlid.

“With the SL being the longest running continuous nameplate in the automotive industry, there have been many special SLs produced over its 57-year run,” said Mercedes-Benz Cars Australia/Pacific managing director, Horst von Sanden.

“We have during the last 57 years debuted some very special features on SL-class and the Night Edition continues that tradition to start off the next 57 years of SL. The SL350 Night Edition is truly an exclusive and bespoke vehicle.” The Night Edition continues to be powered by the 232kW/350Nm 3.5-litre petrol V6 of the standard SL350 ($237,000), and the flagship Mercedes-Benz roadster range continues to also comprise the SL500 V8 ($327,000), SL63 AMG V8 ($409,000), SL600 V12 ($412,500) and SL65 AMG V12 ($502,000).