Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a series of luxury automobiles. SL, meaning "Sport Light", or in German, Sport Leicht.The first SL is the 300SL 'Gullwing' so named because of its upward-opening passenger doors.

Recent Changes

 * On July 10, 2008, Mercedes-Benz released details of its 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series. The ultra-high-performance bahn-stormer is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 engine churning out 661Hp at 5,400 rpm and 738 lb.-ft of torque (compared to the normal SL65's 612 hp or the SLR's 630) and a head spinning $320,000 price tag. To add more fuel to the very explosive combustion, Mercedes-Benz gave the car a raft of weight-saving measures in the form of a carbon fiber hood, fenders and trunk, along with a fixed carbon fiber roof with an integrated roll cage that replaces the retractable hard top. The result is that the SL65 Black is 550 lbs (250kg) lighter (4,122 lbs [1,869 kg]) and can go from 0 to 100 kph in 3.9 sec and on to a governed top speed of 199 mph (320 km/h).

Styles and Major Options
The following SL-Class Roadsters are offered in the U.S. for the year 2005. Prices are listed in US, 2005 dollars.


 * 2005 SL350 (Europe only)
 * 3.7 L (3724 cc) 18-valve V6 245 hp (182 kW) at 5,000 rpm 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 7.2 s


 * 2005 SL500 Roadster
 * Driver-adaptive 7-speed automatic transmission with TouchShift control
 * Aluminum hardtop (automatic retraction: 16 seconds)
 * US$90,620
 * 5.0 L 24-valve V8 engine 306 hp (228 kW) at 5,600 rpm, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 6.5 s


 * 2005 SL55 AMG
 * Manual shift buttons
 * Sensotronic brakes with 8-piston front calipers
 * AMG Active Body Control suspension.
 * US$122,220
 * AMG supercharged 5.5 L (5543 cc) 24-valve V8 engine 476 hp (367 kW) at 6,100 rpm, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 4.7 s


 * 2005 SL600 Roadster
 * Active Body Control suspension
 * Sensotronic Brake Control with enlarged front and rear disks
 * Heated and ventilated multicontour seats
 * US$128,220
 * Twin turbocharged 5.5 L (5513 cc) 36-valve V12 engine 493 hp (367 kW) at 5,000 rpm, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 4.7 s


 * 2005 SL65 AMG
 * 5-speed automatic transmission with AMG SpeedShift programming
 * AMG 8-piston composite calipers brakes
 * 19in dual spoke AMG wheels
 * US$179,720
 * AMG-built twin-turbocharged 6.0 L (5,980 cc) SOHC 36-valve V12 engine 612 hp (450 kW) at 5500 rpm

Pricing
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Gas Mileage
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As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Engine and Transmission
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Performance
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Reliability
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Safety
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Photos
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Colors
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Main Competitors
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Hybrid Models
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Unique Attributes
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Interior
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Resale Values
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Criticisms
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Generations
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Current Generation: (2003-present)

 * Main article: Mercedes-Benz R230

As the new millennium approached, the SL was a decade old and customers were turning to more modern cars like the Jaguar XK8.

In 2003, 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 optional, with a 5.5 L AMG V8 appearing in 2004's SL55 AMG. V12 engines are available in the SL600 and the limited-production SL65 AMG.

Fourth Generation (1990-2002)

 * Main article: Mercedes-Benz R129

The 1990 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 hood.

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 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. The same 7.3 L V12 was later used by Pagani in the Zonda.

The SL60 AMG was extremely rare. Sold through AMG from 1996 to 1998, it used a 6.0 litre V8 engine producing between 381bhp and 384bhp. AMG claimed a 0-62mph (100kph) speed of 5.8 seconds. Its top speed was limited to 155 mph, but with the limiter removed, it was capable of approximately 185 mph. AMG later unofficialy admitted that 0-60mph was more like 5.0 seconds and the engine produced between 405-410bhp.

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.

Third Generation (1972-1989)

 * Main article: Mercedes-Benz R107


 * 350SL - 1971 - 1980
 * 450SL - 1973 - 1980
 * 280SL - 1974 - 1980
 * 380SL - 1980 - 1986
 * 500SL - 1980 - 1989
 * 300SL - 1986 - 1989
 * 300SL-24 - 1988 - 1989
 * 420SL - 1986 - 1989
 * 560SL 1986 - 1989

Second Generation (1963-1971)

 * Main article: Mercedes-Benz W113

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.

First Generation/Origins (1957-1962)

 * Main article: Mercedes-Benz 300SL

The 300SL roadster succeeded the Gullwing in 1957. The 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 removeable hardtop or as a roadster with convertible soft top or with both tops. Production for the 190SL and 300SL ended in 1963.

Worldwide
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Design quirks and oddities
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Awards

 * 2003 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study 3rd winner (Prenium luxury)