Now that the pictures of the new 2013 Mercedes SL have hit every computer in the world, German car maker releases the car’s official details.

If you, like us, didn’t like the looks of this new SL, the car’s technical specs will cheer you up a bit. I mean for all this technological brilliance, we can forgive its uninteresting design!

It might not be as cool as the current SL, but to drive it’ll certainly be much better.

Why is that? Well, for starters the new Mercedes SL, for the first time in its 60-year history, is made almost entirely out of aluminum. So it is 140 kg lighter than its predecessor. That makes the car more nimble and agile and also helps with Mercedes’ quest to reduce fuel consumption across the range. The words Sport and Light are finally relevant for the SL.

The 2013 SL also gets a new 4.7 liter V8 engine for the SL500, developing 435 hp and 700 Nm of torque. Those are 12 and 32 percent better than the old V8. Meanwhile fuel economy is improved by 22 percent.

The SL 500 takes just 4.6 seconds – eight tenths less than the previous SL 500. For the more economy-minded drivers, there’s the SL350 powered by the 306 hp and 370 Nm of torque V6. This one does 0 to 100 in 5.9 seconds.

Both engine variants come with a standard-fit ECO start/stop function. The 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, which has been optimised in relation to fuel consumption and comfort, also contributes to the exemplary, low fuel consumption. The fuel economy of the BlueDIRECT engines takes nothing away from the roadster’s raciness.

The new SL comes with a number first-in-class technologies as well. It features the unique panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL, first seen in the new SLK, for its retractable roof, MAGIC VISION CONTROL is a new, intelligent and highly efficient wipe/wash system with nozzles on the blades, and FrontBass system that intelligently uses the free spaces in the aluminium structures in front of the footwell as resonance spaces for the bass loudspeakers.

The HANDS-FREE ACCESS system is another Mercedes-Benz innovation which provides hands-free, contactless operation of the boot lid. The driver simply moves their foot in the vicinity of the rear bumper. Mercedes-Benz is the only car maker to offer a system which not only automatically opens the boot lid but closes it as well. Ford will also pffer a similar system in the next Escape.

All the other luxury and technology goods that you got in the old SL are also present in the new one, such as the pre-safe safety system and the latest COMMAND system. The new interior, which is not actually new because it’s basically the same as the SLS and SLK, looks kinda retro and cool but not very exciting.As for the pricing, as mentioned before, it’s 93.534 Euro for SL350 and 117.096 Euro for the SL500.

Regardless of all the technologies, the emphasize in the new SL is on its lightness and the fact that it’s a true sports car once again. As a matter fact, sports cars are making a comeback through light and efficient coupes and roadsters.

That is brilliant. We certainly do hope that sportscars become the new craze in the car world, now that everybody hates SUVs!

Here’s more pictures of the new SL: