Mercedes-Benz SL unleashed
Iconic German luxury roadster is lighter, more advanced and a lot more affordable, starting at under $230,000More than half a century after the original Mercedes-Benz SL road car broke cover in 1954, the sixth generation of the iconic luxury roadster has landed in Australia, priced almost $18,000 lower than the model it replaces: $225,000 for the V6-powered SL350.
The range tops out at $466,500 for the fire-breathing 12-cylinder SL65 AMG, which replaces the $442,255 SL600, while the slightly less intense SL63 AMG is priced at $381,500 - almost $40,000 less than its predecessor.
The popular SL500 fetches $304,500, which also represents a price cut of just over $30,000, and is expected to be the top seller in its first first year on the market.
All models are available in Australia now except the SL65 AMG, which is scheduled to arrive here from January 2013 upon request.
Very much a status symbol, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class rivals similarly priced luxury drop-tops from Bentley, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Porsche.
When the new SL was unveiled in January 2012 at the Detroit Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz cars' chief Dieter Zetsche said the SL was an iconic that "oozes comfort and luxury".
"There are around 900 million cars in the world and thousands of models. But there are only a handful of automotive icons. Our SL is one of them."
The new R231-series SL features new aluminium body construction, which sees it shed more than 130kg compared to its predecessor and all models come standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission.
As such, all models now deliver lower fuel consumption, thanks in part to the standard fitment of automatic engine idle-stop systems to save fuel when waiting at traffic lights, for example.
Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 outputting 225kW/370Nm, the entry-level SL350 come standard with keyless entry and starting, 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive damping, reversing camera, an electric draught-stopper, the Airscarf neck heating system, a 600-Watt Harman Kardon surround sound audio system with 14 speakers and all-new FrontBass subwoofers hidden in the front footwells.
Six airbags are also standard as is the Driving Assistance package Plus, adding things like autonomous intelligent cruise control, Active Blind Spot Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist, the latter capable of steering the car back into its lane. It also features hands-free access to the 504 litre boot - a sensor underneath the car detects when you swipe your foot.
Luxury sports seats with heating/ventilation, "deep lateral support" and leather upholstery are naturally standard, as are a whole host of other luxury features, including the new Magic Vision Control wiper system and a digital TV tuner - should you want to watch Deal or no Deal when stuck in traffic.
Step up to the SL500, motivated by a 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 engine outputting 320kW/700Nm, and you get everything found in the SL350 plus slightly nicer Nappa leather upholstery, Burr Walnut wood trim, wood and leather steering wheel, and larger 19-inch alloy wheels.
The AMG hero models benefit from a range of chassis upgrades, including AMG-tuned Active Body Control self-levelling performance suspension and high-performance brakes, with lashings of carbon-fibre added to the interior.
The SL63 AMG is powered by a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 that pumps out 395kW/800Nm, while the top-shelf SL65 AMG gets a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that generates an unholy 463kW/1000Nm.
Stay tuned for our first local drive of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class soon.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
