Photo: Mercedes Benz UK
At the moment, British car buyers who want to order the R231 SL-Class roadster can pick and chose between three different flavors, ranging from very expensive to obscenely expensive. but a fourth version fitting in at the bottom of the engine range promises to change all that and offer a viable alternative to the BMW 6 Series Convertible.
Up until now, base model SL roadsters had to make due with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine. It was reasonably responsive, but lacked the power some expected in a GT car. Its replacement comes in the form of the SL 400, a new model powered by a twin-turbo 3-liter V3 that's mated to a 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox.
The new V6 version of SL comes with a rating of 333 PS and 480 Nm (354 lb ft) of torque, both og which are available lower down in the rev range. That's 27 hp and 110 Nm (81 lb ft) of torque more compared to the old SL 350, which has gone out of production.
Considering this is the base model, performance isn't too bad either. 0 to 100 km/h takes only 5.2 seconds and the top speed is (predictably) limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). That's not only 0.7 seconds faster than the old SL 350, but also 0.3 seconds faster than its direct rival, the 640i Cabrio.
As n everyday car, the SL 400 makes a lot more sense than the V8 models. Fuel consumption is down to 7.3 l/100 (39 mpg UK) on the combined cycle and a somewhat reasonable 9.8 l/100km in the city (29 mpg UK).
The UK launch has not yet been announced, but the SL 400 Roadster is available in Germany since last month for the sum of €97,282 including 19% VAT, which makes it about €1,500 more expensive than the old V6 model.
Worth it? We will leave that decision up to the customers, but not before telling them that a CLS 500 with a V8 engine and all-wheel drive only costs €84,000. No wonder the SL-Class is part of the German car royalty!
The new V6 version of SL comes with a rating of 333 PS and 480 Nm (354 lb ft) of torque, both og which are available lower down in the rev range. That's 27 hp and 110 Nm (81 lb ft) of torque more compared to the old SL 350, which has gone out of production.
Considering this is the base model, performance isn't too bad either. 0 to 100 km/h takes only 5.2 seconds and the top speed is (predictably) limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). That's not only 0.7 seconds faster than the old SL 350, but also 0.3 seconds faster than its direct rival, the 640i Cabrio.
As n everyday car, the SL 400 makes a lot more sense than the V8 models. Fuel consumption is down to 7.3 l/100 (39 mpg UK) on the combined cycle and a somewhat reasonable 9.8 l/100km in the city (29 mpg UK).
The UK launch has not yet been announced, but the SL 400 Roadster is available in Germany since last month for the sum of €97,282 including 19% VAT, which makes it about €1,500 more expensive than the old V6 model.
Worth it? We will leave that decision up to the customers, but not before telling them that a CLS 500 with a V8 engine and all-wheel drive only costs €84,000. No wonder the SL-Class is part of the German car royalty!
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