Photo: Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz SL has become something of a lone ranger these days, with fewer and fewer cars of its type remaining around or being launched.
There’s a simple explanation for that, but we’d rather not get into it as it’s grim and has to do with politics and other nasty stuff like that. The fact of the matter is that convertible GTs are beginning to be a thing of the past. And we’re talking about the more accessible kind, if you’ll allow the term, not the Rolls-Royce Dawn “Hmm, what should I buy today, a six-bedroom villa on the Riviera or a car?” type of vehicles.
Obviously, the SL isn’t cheap either - it’s still a premium vehicle after all - but it’s something us mortals can at least aspire to. The exact pricing for the new version is yet to be released, but it shouldn’t vary significantly from the current quotas that see the SL start off at around 100,000 Euros ($107,000) and go all the way up to nearly 250,000 Euros ($267,000) for the Mercedes-AMG SL65. OK, that's ridiculously expensive.
Still, the SL facelift does get a few new features that would justify a price increase, stuff like the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission or the improved performances of the SL400, SL500, and even the AMG SL63. All these models get better power output with more than decent fuel economy figures, if we’re to take for granted what Mercedes-Benz is telling us.
These changes bring all Mercedes-Benz SL models under the five-second mark for their 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint, with the slowest predictably being the SL400 - 4.9 seconds. The SL500, however, in spite of a significant power gap (130 hp and 200 Nm), is only 0.2 seconds slower than the AMG SL63, with 4.3 seconds and 4.1 seconds, respectively. The AMG SL65 does it in 4.0 seconds, but if not even the owners of the car care, why should we?
Up front, besides the grille, the hood, headlights, upper and lower bumper are all completely new, and it shows. The facelifted SL has a different identity, and it really is down to a collective effort from all these body elements. The result is a car that can sit proudly next to the Mercedes-AMG GT and look like its brother, and not like its father, as the previous model would. And we could have even said “mother,” as the 2012 SL was a little too effeminate.
From the side, the new sill panels stand out from what is otherwise the classic Mercedes-Benz SL silhouette: sleek lines, a long hood, and a passenger compartment pushed to the back. With the roof up, the SL looks like an elegant GT, but fold it down (up to a speed of 40 km/h - 25 mph), and the steep A-pillars are the only things breaking through the otherwise flowing upper line of the body.
And as we’ve reached the rear end of the car, we see a place with minimum changes. All SL models now come with the AMG aesthetic package as standard, so they all receive the ultimate sporty appearance. This is very evident at the back, where the car’s width is accentuated by the wide stance and the AMG apron with side air intakes. The taillights are completely red this time around, but they maintain the same shape that continues to set the SL apart from the new company design direction, where they are much slimmer.
The new SL is also up to its neck in technology. One good example is the Remote Online feature that allows the owner to perform several actions when far away from their car thanks to an integrated SIM card and a smartphone. Apart from sending navigation destinations from a computer, they can also lock or unlock the doors, find their parked vehicle or even track it. The SL offers full Apple CarPlay connectivity with all the features this brings along.
Needless to say, the new Mercedes-Benz SL facelift has a myriad of safety features including (but not limited to) COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS (active brake assist, in short), DISTRONIC (active cruise control) with Active Steering, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist or PRE-SAFE PLUS (a series of preventive measures in case of an imminent crash from behind).
Finally, the new SL now comes equipped with Active Body Control with curve tilting function. The ABC has been present on the previous SLs as well, and thus it has proven its use time and time again. The curve tilting function, however, is new and becomes active between 15 and 180 km/h (9 - 112 mph) as long as the DYNAMIC SELECT is in “Curve” mode. What it does is to correct the car’s deviation from the vertical axis during cornering by up to 2.65 degrees, improving comfort and reducing lateral acceleration.
And the Mercedes-Benz SL is and always has been all about comfort. Yes, performance was also present at all times, but it's clear which of the two came first during development, and this is exactly why, despite the impressive dynamic features, the SL is regarded primarily as a GT and not a sports car. The launch of the S-Class Cabriolet isn't spelling good news for the SL, as there's now a more practical, more comfortable offer from the same brand whose only real drawback is a less pronounced sporty character. That's something that we've already established is not important for the SL buyer.
But still, the facelift makes the SL more competitive on the modern market, even though Mercedes-Benz's model isn’t actually fighting any particular rival, but rather a change in people’s perception on what kind of cars they need. It probably won't succeed, but for history's sake, let's just hope Mercedes-Benz will never kill its most iconic roadster.
Obviously, the SL isn’t cheap either - it’s still a premium vehicle after all - but it’s something us mortals can at least aspire to. The exact pricing for the new version is yet to be released, but it shouldn’t vary significantly from the current quotas that see the SL start off at around 100,000 Euros ($107,000) and go all the way up to nearly 250,000 Euros ($267,000) for the Mercedes-AMG SL65. OK, that's ridiculously expensive.
Still, the SL facelift does get a few new features that would justify a price increase, stuff like the 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission or the improved performances of the SL400, SL500, and even the AMG SL63. All these models get better power output with more than decent fuel economy figures, if we’re to take for granted what Mercedes-Benz is telling us.
More to the point
The new SL400’s V6 engine is now putting out 367 hp and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft), which is the same as the 450 AMG models in other classes and 38 hp and 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) more than the previous SL400. The SL500 keeps its 4,663 cc V8 engine, but it now offers 455 hp (up from 435 hp) and the same maximum torque of 700 Nm (516 lb-ft). Finally, the Mercedes-AMG SL63 is now capable of 585 hp, going up from the previous 556 hp that were available only with the Performance Package (537 hp as standard). The top of the line Mercedes-AMG SL65 keeps its power figures intact, and that’s perfectly OK, as probably not even the owners of these cars know what they are, since they just don’t care. At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes-Benz SL350 has been dropped altogether even before this mid-cycle facelift.These changes bring all Mercedes-Benz SL models under the five-second mark for their 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint, with the slowest predictably being the SL400 - 4.9 seconds. The SL500, however, in spite of a significant power gap (130 hp and 200 Nm), is only 0.2 seconds slower than the AMG SL63, with 4.3 seconds and 4.1 seconds, respectively. The AMG SL65 does it in 4.0 seconds, but if not even the owners of the car care, why should we?
Eye of the beholder
The facelift brings some significant visual changes as well for the only real two-seater GT in Mercedes-Benz’s lineup, and we’re still talking about the SL here, in case you missed it. According to Mercedes, the inspiration came from the 300 SL Panamericana racing car with its steeply raked radiator grille, giving birth to a unique face in the whole model range. Well, the SL has always been the special one.Up front, besides the grille, the hood, headlights, upper and lower bumper are all completely new, and it shows. The facelifted SL has a different identity, and it really is down to a collective effort from all these body elements. The result is a car that can sit proudly next to the Mercedes-AMG GT and look like its brother, and not like its father, as the previous model would. And we could have even said “mother,” as the 2012 SL was a little too effeminate.
From the side, the new sill panels stand out from what is otherwise the classic Mercedes-Benz SL silhouette: sleek lines, a long hood, and a passenger compartment pushed to the back. With the roof up, the SL looks like an elegant GT, but fold it down (up to a speed of 40 km/h - 25 mph), and the steep A-pillars are the only things breaking through the otherwise flowing upper line of the body.
And as we’ve reached the rear end of the car, we see a place with minimum changes. All SL models now come with the AMG aesthetic package as standard, so they all receive the ultimate sporty appearance. This is very evident at the back, where the car’s width is accentuated by the wide stance and the AMG apron with side air intakes. The taillights are completely red this time around, but they maintain the same shape that continues to set the SL apart from the new company design direction, where they are much slimmer.
Beyond the veil
Inside, the focus is set on quality and not so much on change, so expect exquisite materials such as wood or nappa leather, as well as metallic finishes. Depending on trim levels and optionals, the SL can come with luxury details such as an analog clock in the center console.The new SL is also up to its neck in technology. One good example is the Remote Online feature that allows the owner to perform several actions when far away from their car thanks to an integrated SIM card and a smartphone. Apart from sending navigation destinations from a computer, they can also lock or unlock the doors, find their parked vehicle or even track it. The SL offers full Apple CarPlay connectivity with all the features this brings along.
Needless to say, the new Mercedes-Benz SL facelift has a myriad of safety features including (but not limited to) COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS (active brake assist, in short), DISTRONIC (active cruise control) with Active Steering, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist or PRE-SAFE PLUS (a series of preventive measures in case of an imminent crash from behind).
Finally, the new SL now comes equipped with Active Body Control with curve tilting function. The ABC has been present on the previous SLs as well, and thus it has proven its use time and time again. The curve tilting function, however, is new and becomes active between 15 and 180 km/h (9 - 112 mph) as long as the DYNAMIC SELECT is in “Curve” mode. What it does is to correct the car’s deviation from the vertical axis during cornering by up to 2.65 degrees, improving comfort and reducing lateral acceleration.
And the Mercedes-Benz SL is and always has been all about comfort. Yes, performance was also present at all times, but it's clear which of the two came first during development, and this is exactly why, despite the impressive dynamic features, the SL is regarded primarily as a GT and not a sports car. The launch of the S-Class Cabriolet isn't spelling good news for the SL, as there's now a more practical, more comfortable offer from the same brand whose only real drawback is a less pronounced sporty character. That's something that we've already established is not important for the SL buyer.
But still, the facelift makes the SL more competitive on the modern market, even though Mercedes-Benz's model isn’t actually fighting any particular rival, but rather a change in people’s perception on what kind of cars they need. It probably won't succeed, but for history's sake, let's just hope Mercedes-Benz will never kill its most iconic roadster.
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