Brenda Priddy's spy photo network caught new shots of the next Mercedes-Benz SL, here snow-testing nearly two years before its expected debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The car’s classic layout is still visible even with heavy camouflage, and Priddy says the relatively long front and rear overhangs, along with a retractable metal roof, will remain key features. New to the SL will be an upright front grille designed to accomodate new pedestrian-protection rules in the European Union.

Unlike today’s model, which is built in Bremen, Germany, the next generation will be built in Stuttgart, partly helping to save jobs endangered by Mercedes-Benz's plan to outsource production of the C-class to the United States.



Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

Brenda Priddy's spy photo network caught new shots of the next Mercedes-Benz SL, here snow-testing nearly two years before its expected debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. The car’s classic layout is still visible even with heavy camouflage, and Priddy says the relatively long front and rear overhangs, along with a retractable metal roof, will remain key features. New to the SL will be an upright front grille designed to accomodate new pedestrian-protection rules in the European Union.

Unlike today’s model, which is built in Bremen, Germany, the next generation will be built in Stuttgart, partly helping to save jobs endangered by Mercedes-Benz's plan to outsource production of the C-class to the United States.



Photos copyright Brenda Priddy & Company. Reuse or reproduction without copyright holder's consent is prohibited.

	SEMA is urging Virginia lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at banning aftermarket exhaust systems.

A bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates. SEMA has urged lawmakers to reject the bill, which was the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.

SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems which can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.

In California for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana. Follow this link to learn more about the bill.

For further details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	SEMA is urging Virginia lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at banning aftermarket exhaust systems.

A bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates. SEMA has urged lawmakers to reject the bill, which was the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.

SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems which can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.

In California for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana. Follow this link to learn more about the bill.

For further details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	SEMA is urging Virginia lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at banning aftermarket exhaust systems.

A bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates. SEMA has urged lawmakers to reject the bill, which was the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.

SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems which can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.

In California for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana. Follow this link to learn more about the bill.

For further details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	SEMA is urging Virginia lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at banning aftermarket exhaust systems.

A bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates. SEMA has urged lawmakers to reject the bill, which was the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.

SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems which can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.

In California for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana. Follow this link to learn more about the bill.

For further details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

	SEMA is urging Virginia lawmakers to reject a bill aimed at banning aftermarket exhaust systems.

A bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise” has been introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates. SEMA has urged lawmakers to reject the bill, which was the subject of a hearing before the House Transportation Committee.

SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems which can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard.

In California for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana. Follow this link to learn more about the bill.

For further details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

TOP DOG: IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti was presented the annual Jerry Titus Award by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association. It was the second time in three years that he has won the honor as the group’s driver of the year.

BOWL GAME: Third-generation racer Kevin Swindell outran a field of more than 250 competitors to win the 24th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa (Oklahoma) Expo Raceway. It was the first victory in the event for the 20-year-old driver, but his father Sammy, who finished third, is a five-time Chili Bowl victor.

DIED: Legendary midget racing mechanic Bob Higman died at age 84.

HIRED: John Anderson has been hired as team manager for the U.S. F1 Formula One operation.

SPRINTERS: Donny Schatz (410 sprint cars), Levi Jones (non-winged sprint cars) and Shane Stewart (360 sprint cars) were named Drivers of the Year in their respective divisions by the North American Sprint Car Poll. NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne earned the poll’s Outstanding Contribution to the Sport award.

FLY AWAY: NASCAR appears ready to abolish the wings on the back of its Car of Tomorrow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in favor of a spoiler similar to those used in the past.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN: Tyler Walker, the Golden State Challenge Series sprint-car champion in 2009, will race in Pennsylvania in 2010, driving Mike Heffner’s No. 27.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

TOP DOG: IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti was presented the annual Jerry Titus Award by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association. It was the second time in three years that he has won the honor as the group’s driver of the year.

BOWL GAME: Third-generation racer Kevin Swindell outran a field of more than 250 competitors to win the 24th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa (Oklahoma) Expo Raceway. It was the first victory in the event for the 20-year-old driver, but his father Sammy, who finished third, is a five-time Chili Bowl victor.

DIED: Legendary midget racing mechanic Bob Higman died at age 84.

HIRED: John Anderson has been hired as team manager for the U.S. F1 Formula One operation.

SPRINTERS: Donny Schatz (410 sprint cars), Levi Jones (non-winged sprint cars) and Shane Stewart (360 sprint cars) were named Drivers of the Year in their respective divisions by the North American Sprint Car Poll. NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne earned the poll’s Outstanding Contribution to the Sport award.

FLY AWAY: NASCAR appears ready to abolish the wings on the back of its Car of Tomorrow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in favor of a spoiler similar to those used in the past.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN: Tyler Walker, the Golden State Challenge Series sprint-car champion in 2009, will race in Pennsylvania in 2010, driving Mike Heffner’s No. 27.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.

TOP DOG: IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti was presented the annual Jerry Titus Award by the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association. It was the second time in three years that he has won the honor as the group’s driver of the year.

BOWL GAME: Third-generation racer Kevin Swindell outran a field of more than 250 competitors to win the 24th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa (Oklahoma) Expo Raceway. It was the first victory in the event for the 20-year-old driver, but his father Sammy, who finished third, is a five-time Chili Bowl victor.

DIED: Legendary midget racing mechanic Bob Higman died at age 84.

HIRED: John Anderson has been hired as team manager for the U.S. F1 Formula One operation.

SPRINTERS: Donny Schatz (410 sprint cars), Levi Jones (non-winged sprint cars) and Shane Stewart (360 sprint cars) were named Drivers of the Year in their respective divisions by the North American Sprint Car Poll. NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne earned the poll’s Outstanding Contribution to the Sport award.

FLY AWAY: NASCAR appears ready to abolish the wings on the back of its Car of Tomorrow NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car in favor of a spoiler similar to those used in the past.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN: Tyler Walker, the Golden State Challenge Series sprint-car champion in 2009, will race in Pennsylvania in 2010, driving Mike Heffner’s No. 27.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.