Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
| Mercedes-Benz SL-Class | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz |
| Production | 1957–present |
| Assembly | Bremen, Germany |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Luxury Grand Tourer |
| Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
| Layout | FR layout |
The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a series of luxury automobiles. SL, meaning "Sport Light", or in German, Sport Leicht, first appeared on the 1954 300SL 'Gullwing' so named because of its upward-opening passenger doors.
300SL (1954-1962)
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1957-1963 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.9L I4 3.0L I6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2400 mm (94.5 in) |
| Length | 4520 mm (178 in) |
| Width | 1790 mm (70.5 in) |
| Height | 1300 mm (51.1 in) |
The 300SL roadster succeeded the Gullwing in 1957. The 4-cylinder 190SL was more widely produced with 25,881 units, starting in 1955. Cars of the open SL-Class were available as a coupe with a removable hardtop or as a roadster with convertible soft top or with both tops. Production for the 190SL and 300SL ended in 1963.
W113 (1963-1971)
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1963-1971 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz W113 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.3L I4 2.5L I6 2.8L I6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 4-speed manual |
Next came the SL-Class 230SL, a new design with a low waistline and big curved greenhouse windows, and a Coupe Roadster whose distinctive roofline earned the nickname "pagoda top." Around 1968 the engine received a displacement increase and the model became known as the 250SL. The last two years of production as the 280SL saw minor changes to switch knobs, and wheel trim rings became full hubcaps.
R107 (1972-1988)
| Third generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1972-1988 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz R107 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.5L V8 3.5L I6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | Template:Auto in |
| Length | Template:Auto in |
| Width | Template:Auto in |
| Height | Template:Auto in |
- 350SL - 1971 - 1980
- 450SL - 1973 - 1980
- 280SL - 1974 - 1980
- 380SL - 1980 - 1986
- 500SL - 1980 - 1986
All updated 86-89 models have the advantages of the more modern 4 pot brakes larger discs and suspension derived from the W124 sedan. The body itself is built with a modern paint system designed to improve protection from rust.
- 300SL - 1986 - 1989 Base model was available as standard in a 5-speed manual although very few were sold. The SOHC 6 cylinder M103 considered by many to have handling advantages with its lighter engine.
- 420SL - 1986 - 1989
- 500SL - 1986 - 1989
- 560SL - 1986 - 1989 From 86 onwards the US, Japan and Australia received only this model.
R129 (1989-2001)
| Fourth generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1989-2002 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz R129 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.0L Template:Auto hp V8 6.0L Template:Auto hp V12 7.3L V12 |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | Template:Auto in |
| Length | 1997-2002: Template:Auto in 1989-1996: Template:Auto in 1992-96 V12: Template:Auto in |
| Width | Template:Auto in |
| Height | 1992-2002: Template:Auto in 1989-1991: Template:Auto in |
The 1989 Mercedes SL base model was the 228 hp (170 kW) 3.0 L inline 6 300SL version. But it was the 322 hp (240 kW) 500SL (with a 5.0 L V8 engine) which made the most headlines. The specification was high, with electric windows, mirrors, seats and roof.
1994 saw a mild facelift for the SL, and the 300SL was replaced in Europe by the SL280 and SL320 (with 2.8 L and 3.2 L I6 engines). The SL500 continued with the same powerful engine. A 389 hp (290 kW) 6.0 L V12 SL600 topped the range in 1993.
The SL320 replaced the 300SL in the United States in 1995, but the SL280 was not offered. The 6-cylinder SLs were dropped from the US lineup in 1998, leaving just the V8 and V12. The SL500 got a new 302 hp (225 kW) 5.0 L V8 for 1999.
AMG
The extremely rare SL73 AMG was sold through AMG in 1995, and at 525 bhp it offered the most powerful V12 engine ever put into an SL up to that time. After a brief gap, the SL73 was offered again from 1998 to 2001, although the engine was slightly updated to be more reliable. The same 7.3 L V12 was later used by Pagani in the Zonda. A total of 85 SL73 AMG roadsters were built. The SL73 was briefly reintroduced in September 1999 following the SL's end of life facelift and a limited number were produced up until December 2001. The facelifted SL73 is the car that appears in the picture (left).
The SL60 AMG was also extremely rare. Sold through MB from 1996 to 1998, it used a 6.0 litre V8 engine producing between 381 bhp and 384 bhp. AMG claimed a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) speed of 5.8 seconds. Its top speed was limited to 155 mi:h[convert: unknown unit], but with the limiter removed, it was capable of approximately 185 mi:h[convert: unknown unit]. AMG later unofficially admitted that 0-60 mph was closer to 5.0 seconds and the engine produced between 405-410 bhp.
The SL55 AMG was sold through AMG in the R129 bodystyle from 1998 to 2001 in limited quantity. It was the predecessor of the production R230 SL55 AMG sold today.
Only about 300 cars in the SL-class were customized by AMG prior to 2003.
R230 (2002-Present)
| Fifth generation | |
|---|---|
| 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 2002-present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz R230 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.5L Template:Auto hp V8 5.4L Template:Auto hp V8 |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic 7-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | Template:Auto in |
| Length | Template:Auto in |
| Width | 2005-present: Template:Auto in 2003-04: Template:Auto in |
| Height | Template:Auto in |
As the new millennium approached, the SL was a decade old and customers were turning to more modern cars like the Jaguar XK8.
2002
In 2001, an all-new SL (initially just a 5.0 L SL500 version) went on sale, boasting the "Vario-Roof", an electric folding steel roof which had been seen on the smaller, cheaper SLK in 1997. A 5.0 L 302 hp (225 kW) V8 was standard, with a 5.5 L AMG V8 appearing in 2002's SL55 AMG.
2004
For 2004, the SL600 was revived, with an SL65 AMG version making its debut. Both vehicles were powered by V12 engines. The SL600, with its 5.5L V12 engine, produced 493 hp and 590 ft·lbf of torque. It is the most powerful non-AMG SL-Class model ever produced. The SL65 AMG uses a twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 engine, which produces 604 hp and 738 ft·lbf of torque.
2005
In 2005, a new model, known as the SL350, was produced for the European market. It was powered by a 3.7L V6 engine, which produced 245 hp (182 kW) at 5000 rpm.
2005 also saw a diesel-powered SL-Class, which was known as the SL400 CDI Concept Car. It was powered by a 4.0L common-rail diesel engine, which produced 315 hp (235 kW) and 730 Nm (538 ft·lbf) of torque. This was powerful enough to propel the car to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.7 seconds. It was only a show car and Mercedes-Benz has no plans to produce it, although recent rumors suggest that the vehicle might make its way into production and be sold at European dealers in the near-future.
2007
The entire SL-Class lineup, except for the SL65 AMG, was revised for 2007. A 3.5L V6 engine, developing 272 hp, replaced the 3.7L V6 found in the SL350. The SL500's 5.0L V8 was replaced with a 5.5L V8, producing 382 hp and 391 ft·lbf. This model retains the SL500 name in most markets, but is now sold as the SL550 in North America. The engine in the SL55 AMG was updated to produce 510 hp and 531 ft·lbf of torque. Like the SL55 AMG, the SL600's engine was also updated to produce 510 hp, but 612 ft·lbf of torque.
Video Games
- The 2004 Playstation 2 game Gran Turismo 4 features the R129 SL500 and SL600, and the R230 SL500, SL55 AMG, SL600, and SL65 AMG.
- The Xbox 360/PC game Test Drive Unlimited features the SL65 AMG, only available with the roof retracted.
- The video game Need For Speed: Most Wanted features both the SL500 and the SL65 AMG.
- The 2006 video game Need for Speed: Carbon features the SL65 AMG.
- The video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas features a car called the Feltzer which is based on the R107 model.
References
The 2000 video game Driver 2 features cars based on the Mercedes-Benz R107 SL-Class in the Rio de Janeiro 'level'.
Awards
The 2001 Mercedes Benz SL Class won European Best Interior Design award.
The Mercedes SL-Class won the coveted ‘Most Technologically Advanced Car of the Year’ award from AutoCar Magazine and CNBC TV.
The Mercedes SL-Class won the equally coveted ‘Best Designed Car of the Year’ awards from AutoCar Magazine and CNBC TV.