R129 Interior design

Sporty elegance that harmonizes with the exterior

The interior of the Mercedes-Benz R129 perfectly embodies sporty elegance, offering a refined yet dynamic driving environment. Designed with precision and luxury in mind, the two-door roadster features premium materials, ergonomic seating, and advanced technology for its time. From the driver-focused dashboard to the impeccable craftsmanship throughout, every detail reflects Mercedes-Benz's commitment to blending performance with sophistication.

SL-Class interior features

• A sporty appearance - with a contour harmoniously blending with the exterior;
• Matching colours for the following interior compo-nents: steering wheel, gear or selector lever leather-covered, seat belts, boot lining;
• 2 materials: fabric (sports design) and leather;
• 8 interior colours;
• Floor covering and lower section of instrument panel in fine-grained velours;
• Centre console and door grab handles lined in burred walnut;
• Several lockable stowage and oddments compartments integrated into the interior lining;
• Logia seals alsaace seat-belt: system and electric seat adjustment (incl. height adjustment for head restraints and seat-belt guides);
• Seat design: shaped wire springing overlaid with air-permeable padding;
• Rear seating unit available on request;

The sporty appearance of the interior is harmoniously designed to match the exterior contours, which incorporate the classic Mercedes-Benz characteristics of active and passive safety in a modern, future-orientated but not modish form.

An elegant, sporty, technological flair finds its expression in the clear, sleek contour of the instrument panel, into which the instrument cluster with its five dials is integrated as a dominant stylistic element. The padded, energy-absorbing two-part dashboard offers the greatest possible protection in the case of impacts. In order further to reduce the risk of injury in severe frontal collisions, airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger are available as an optional extra. The front-seat passenger's airbag is integrated into the dashboard in place of the glove compartment.

The anti-glare instrument cluster is well laid-out. The distinct separation of the various display functions provides for even greater clarity.

The back-lighting method - used for the first time in a passenger car - makes the indicators easier to read at night. Instead of a fuel consumption trend indicator, the instrument cluster includes a gauge for the precise display of fuel consumption in litres/100 km. As in other Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, control lamps with functional and warning symbols are located underneath the gauges. In addition to the standard displays, these include warnings for insufficient levels of windscreen washing water, coolant and oil, for bulb failure in the exterior lighting system, for malfunctions in ABS, ASD, ASR, airbag, roll-over bar and seat backrest locks. A digital exterior temperature display is a standard fea-ture.

The dish-shaped steering wheel with impact absorber has a diameter of 400 mm. The steering-wheel rim is covered with leather. An electrically adjustable jacket tube can be installed on request (standard for 500 SL), allowing the steering wheel to be adjusted for reach, height and angle.

A smooth-surfaced centre console, in which the functional elements are elegantly grouped in a fine wooden frame, emphasises the high-tech character of the interior. Behind the leather-covered gear or selector lever, the centre console rises to form a generously dimensioned oddments box.
With its longitudinally sliding cover closed, the central oddments box also serves as an armrest. The sloping section houses an ashtray/cigar lighter unit and a storage space for compact discs or cassettes; these compartments can each be closed with a roller.

Two oddments compartments with folding lids are provided at the rear. On request, these can be replaced by two supplementary seats whose backrests can be folded down to the front in order to provide a flat surface for stowing luggage, as is the case with the oddments compartments.

Integrated into the door lining, which for reasons of safety has a large surface area, are a mid-range speaker and a woofer as part of a six-component high-performance speaker system available as an optional extra (the tweeters are located on the left and right at the top of the instrument panel). Under the armrest, designed as a cover, is a large lockable oddments compartment (door pocket). A characteristic typical of Mercedes-Benz is the dynamically designed, soft padding element lining the door. The grab handle, smoothly integrated, houses the safety handle for locking the door.

The controls in the door are grouped together on a wooden panel in front of the grab handle: at the top is the door handle, beneath it the haptic switch (now illuminated) for seat adjustment including head restraint and seat belt guide adjustment. If the optional memory feature is included, the positioning and memory buttons for three settings are located under the symbol switch. The electrically adjustable jacket tube unit and the electric interior (optional extra) and exterior mirror adjustment can be integrated into the memory circuit.

At the rear, the side lining, stowage spaces (or rear seats), roll-over bar and soft-top compartment constitute a single unit. The roll-over bar is integrated into the whole in such a way as to create an appealing contour, both when retracted and when raised. The openings for the soft-top frame - unlike the predecessor models with open slots - are closed with flaps when the top is raised.

A design has been found for the front seats, which - as compared with the basically similar front of the "Auto 2000" research vehicle - have a markedly more elegant contour but which do not conceal from the beholder the impression of high-value technology and func-tionality.

These integral seats, which are at present the only ones of their type installed in production vehicles, unite unparalleled comfort and the highest possible level of safety, thanks to the following features:

• an integrated restraint system, consisting of a three-point inertial-reel seat belt with belt tensioner;
• fully electrical seat squab, backrest and head restraint/belt height adjustment with haptic switches in the doors (standard feature for all models);
• memory feature optionally available;
• head restraint adjustment linked to seat belt height adjustment;
• folding backrest; backrest locking monitored, with visual and acoustical signals.

The longitudinal adjustment range of 225 mm is 63 mm longer than in the previous models, thus providing comfortable seating even for tall vehicle occupants. An inductive proximity switch prevents the backrest from colliding with the soft-top compartment by limiting the range of adjustment where necessary. If the backrest approaches the soft-top compartment to within a critical distance when the seat unit is shifted backwards or the seat squab is lowered, the backrest is automatically raised to a more vertical position. If the backrest is lowered to the rear, the entire seat is automatically moved forwards if the critical distance is reached. This prevents damage to the backrest and the soft-top com-partment.

As was the case for the predecessor models, the interior appointments are available in eight colours - in fabric as a standard feature or in leather as an optional extra. The upper portion of the instrument panel is offered in seven colours, the lower velours carpeting portion in eight colours; the roof lining of the convertible soft top is available in one colour, and that of the coupé roof in three cours to match the interior appointments.

A new feature is matching the seat belts to the colours of the interior appointments. The various appointment colours can be harmoniously matched to the bodywork colour; either tone-in-tone or contrasting colours are possible. The following combinations are available for each particular colour:

Interior appointments	Instrument panel upper section	Instrument panel lower section, seat belts	Roof lining (soft top)	Roof lining (coupé roof)
black	black	black	beige	grey
blue	blue	blue	beige	grey
grey	dark grey	grey	beige	grey
light brown	dark brown	light brown	beige	light brown
brazil	brazil	brazil	beige	light brown
fir green	fir green	fir green	beige	cream beige
cream beige	dark brown	cream beige	beige	cream beige
medium red	medium red	medium red	beige	cream beige

The boot has a capacity of 255 litres (VDA meas-urement). The interior light, automatically activated by the lock via a micro-switch, can also be switched off using the ignition key when the lid is open. When open, the boot lid is held in position by two gas-operated struts. The entire boot, including the lid and the wall separating it from the fuel tank, is lined with velours felt in a choice of eight colours to match the interior appointments. The spare wheel is located under the floor of the boot in a horizontal position and is covered with a plastic plate, as in the previous models. The jack and on-board tool kit are stored next to the spare wheel. The battery of the new SL is in the cavity on the right-hand side of the boot. The left-hand cavity houses the first-aid kit. The hazard warning triangle is clipped into the boot lid, so that the traffic behind is alerted immediately the boot is opened.

Attractive styling, exclusivity and sporty elegance in the interior, supplemented by a variety of new practical ideas, create an atmosphere greatly enhancing the driving experience. The design of the interior, developed to blend with the exterior, incorporating classic Mercedes-Benz characteristics, e.g. active and passive safety in a modern, future-orientated but not-modish form.

Creates an atmosphere of refined elegance with

• the interplay of high-value materials and quality workmanship;
• harmony of colours and shapes;
• exclusive and ergonomic;

Relieves the driver of stress and creates a relaxing atmosphere for the passen-gers by providing for

• relaxing seating;
• non-fatiguing driving;
• retention of reaction ability;

Enhances passive safety with

• the energy-absorbing design of the dashboard, door fittings and other impact zones;
• the seat-belt system integrated into the seats;
• seat-belt tensioners for the front seats as a standard feature (and with airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger as an optional extra);
• the energy-absorbing steering wheel;
• the padded, recessed and deformable interior appointments;