SL-Class (R231) 2012 Mercedes SL (R231) - First Drives Thread
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The Mercedes-Benz R231 is the sixth generation SL roadster, replacing the R230. Released in March 2012, it uses Mercedes-Benz's new 4.7 litre twin turbo V8 engine with a power output of 435 PS (320 kW; 429 hp). It was succeeded by the Mercedes-AMG R232. Production March 2011–2020. Model years: 2012–2020.
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"Really, who has to have more than 516 lb-ft of torque?" said associate editor Scott Evans after a quick run in the Mars Red 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 roadster we recently had in for some instrumented testing fun.
Associate road test editor Carlos Lago walked away from the SL with similar thoughts: "Who would need an AMG? Only the handful of people who happen to say, 'Wait, they have how much torque? Why yes, I need that.'"
Point the 2013 SL550's long, squared-off nose to 12 o'clock, smash the right pedal until the maximum 13 psi of bi-turbo boost pressure invigorates the 429 hp 4.7-liter V-8, and you'll immediately understand why the guys think the SL's 516 lb-ft of torque is more than enough. Get each of the seven-speed automatic's shifts correct via its twin paddles and 60 mph will flash on the digitized speedo in 4.0 seconds. The SL will reach the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 114 mph.
Indeed, the SL550 packs a sports car punch in a modern package stuffed to its faux hood intakes with cutting edge safety and cabin tech (Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Brake, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Airscarf, and COMAND). For a 4100-pound roadster whose body is 90-percent aluminum (with high-strength steel and magnesium thrown in), the SL550 also stops absurdly well. Stomp on the 13.5-inch front, 12.6-inch rear cross-drilled rotors and you'll get to nil from 60 mph in only 105 feet.
Tackle a mountain road with the SL's gearbox and Active Body Control (ABC) suspension set to the most athletic Sport modes and you'll immediately notice a heavier pull from its electromechanically boosted three-spoke helm, touchier throttle, less-forgiving ride, and gearshifts undertaken at the rev limiter. Its actions become sharper and quicker. But even in the sportiest of drive modes, the SL isn't a precision driving instrument.
Mild body roll following precise turn-in hampers crisp cornering maneuvers. And the steering is too uncommunicative for hyper-aggressive canyon carving. You simply can't feel what's going on below the massive 19-inch Bridgestones, and if you transition from off- to on-throttle too quickly, the torque surge will swing the tail out, nannies on. As Todd Lassa mentioned in his First Drive review, no matter how many times Mercedes-Benz calls the SL550 a legitimate sports car, it isn't. Not to worry though, if you want more sport in you SL, the team in Affalterbach already has you covered with its new SL63 and SL65 AMG models waiting in the wings.
The SL550 excels at cruising. Its forefathers, namely the 1955 190 SL and 1957 300 SL Roadster, set the standard when it came to ueber-comfortable top-down luxo-sailing. The sixth-generation car -- codenamed R231 in Benz tongue -- stays true to its heritage by providing one of the quietest, plushest two-seat rides around.
Such near-silence inside can be attributed to its double-layer floor, heavily insulated cabin, structural pieces with spray-on insulation, and an extra-thick laminated windshield. Added comfort is a direct result of two cushy 12-way adjustable massaging thrones and an optional ABC adjustable suspension that softens its dampening in comfort mode.
Then there's the variable but extremely light power steering rack that makes directing the SL in tight parking lots a breeze. Even with all of its power, the SL is as calm as an S-Class when rolling around town. It's also quiet until the hard top drops (in around 16 seconds at speeds no higher than around 2 mph), the revs climb, and that burbling barrel-chested growl reveals itself.
Our SL wore $17,940 worth of options, $11,850 of them comfort and convenience related. The priciest of them, the Premium 1 Package ($4900), features a rearview camera, Parktronic radar guidance, ventilated and multi-contour seats, Airscarf, and keyless ignition. The camera is a godsend, considering the SL's minimal rearward visibility, though COMAND must be on to use it.
Speaking of COMAND, the SL's modern, brightly painted exterior only exacerbates the dated look of the multimedia system's brown- and yellow-tinged menus. That said, I could overlook the screen's drab colors and the simplistic, overly retro black interior because of one absurdly named item: Magic Sky Control, the spiffiest panoramic roof in the automotive biz. The glass can change its transparency with the charge of an electric current that's operated by a ceiling-mounted button. It will impress many dates. Trust me.
You might not have as much luck impressing with the SL's exterior lines.
As Lago put it, "The exterior styling is disappointing. Looks like three different people were responsible for three different parts - the nose, the mid section, and the rear. Alone, these parts look all right (the rear reminds me of the Maybach Exelero concept), but they mix poorly on the car itself. The overall look is incongruent."
Around L.A., the car got plenty of stares, so it's possible Benz's designers did something right after all.
Mercedes-Benz has stayed true to the SL's roots, crafting a lighter, more powerful, more fuel-efficient roadster that's as comfortable and classy as it is attention-getting and absurdly quick. Buyers put an SL in their garages to make a statement no matter where they roll. This Benz successfully does just that. Now how about those AMGs...
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550
BASE PRICE $106,405
PRICE AS TESTED $124,345
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door convertible
ENGINE 4.7L/429-hp/516-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4104 lb (52/48%)
WHEELBASE 101.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 181.8 x 73.9 x 51.8 in
0-60 MPH 4.0 sec
QUARTER MILE 12.5 sec @ 114.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 105 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.94 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.0 sec @ 0.73 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 16/24 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 211/140 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 1.03 lb/mile
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1205_2013_mercedes_benz_sl550_first_test/
Associate road test editor Carlos Lago walked away from the SL with similar thoughts: "Who would need an AMG? Only the handful of people who happen to say, 'Wait, they have how much torque? Why yes, I need that.'"
Point the 2013 SL550's long, squared-off nose to 12 o'clock, smash the right pedal until the maximum 13 psi of bi-turbo boost pressure invigorates the 429 hp 4.7-liter V-8, and you'll immediately understand why the guys think the SL's 516 lb-ft of torque is more than enough. Get each of the seven-speed automatic's shifts correct via its twin paddles and 60 mph will flash on the digitized speedo in 4.0 seconds. The SL will reach the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 114 mph.
Indeed, the SL550 packs a sports car punch in a modern package stuffed to its faux hood intakes with cutting edge safety and cabin tech (Distronic Plus with Pre-Safe Brake, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Airscarf, and COMAND). For a 4100-pound roadster whose body is 90-percent aluminum (with high-strength steel and magnesium thrown in), the SL550 also stops absurdly well. Stomp on the 13.5-inch front, 12.6-inch rear cross-drilled rotors and you'll get to nil from 60 mph in only 105 feet.
Tackle a mountain road with the SL's gearbox and Active Body Control (ABC) suspension set to the most athletic Sport modes and you'll immediately notice a heavier pull from its electromechanically boosted three-spoke helm, touchier throttle, less-forgiving ride, and gearshifts undertaken at the rev limiter. Its actions become sharper and quicker. But even in the sportiest of drive modes, the SL isn't a precision driving instrument.
Mild body roll following precise turn-in hampers crisp cornering maneuvers. And the steering is too uncommunicative for hyper-aggressive canyon carving. You simply can't feel what's going on below the massive 19-inch Bridgestones, and if you transition from off- to on-throttle too quickly, the torque surge will swing the tail out, nannies on. As Todd Lassa mentioned in his First Drive review, no matter how many times Mercedes-Benz calls the SL550 a legitimate sports car, it isn't. Not to worry though, if you want more sport in you SL, the team in Affalterbach already has you covered with its new SL63 and SL65 AMG models waiting in the wings.
The SL550 excels at cruising. Its forefathers, namely the 1955 190 SL and 1957 300 SL Roadster, set the standard when it came to ueber-comfortable top-down luxo-sailing. The sixth-generation car -- codenamed R231 in Benz tongue -- stays true to its heritage by providing one of the quietest, plushest two-seat rides around.
Such near-silence inside can be attributed to its double-layer floor, heavily insulated cabin, structural pieces with spray-on insulation, and an extra-thick laminated windshield. Added comfort is a direct result of two cushy 12-way adjustable massaging thrones and an optional ABC adjustable suspension that softens its dampening in comfort mode.
Then there's the variable but extremely light power steering rack that makes directing the SL in tight parking lots a breeze. Even with all of its power, the SL is as calm as an S-Class when rolling around town. It's also quiet until the hard top drops (in around 16 seconds at speeds no higher than around 2 mph), the revs climb, and that burbling barrel-chested growl reveals itself.
Our SL wore $17,940 worth of options, $11,850 of them comfort and convenience related. The priciest of them, the Premium 1 Package ($4900), features a rearview camera, Parktronic radar guidance, ventilated and multi-contour seats, Airscarf, and keyless ignition. The camera is a godsend, considering the SL's minimal rearward visibility, though COMAND must be on to use it.
Speaking of COMAND, the SL's modern, brightly painted exterior only exacerbates the dated look of the multimedia system's brown- and yellow-tinged menus. That said, I could overlook the screen's drab colors and the simplistic, overly retro black interior because of one absurdly named item: Magic Sky Control, the spiffiest panoramic roof in the automotive biz. The glass can change its transparency with the charge of an electric current that's operated by a ceiling-mounted button. It will impress many dates. Trust me.
You might not have as much luck impressing with the SL's exterior lines.
As Lago put it, "The exterior styling is disappointing. Looks like three different people were responsible for three different parts - the nose, the mid section, and the rear. Alone, these parts look all right (the rear reminds me of the Maybach Exelero concept), but they mix poorly on the car itself. The overall look is incongruent."
Around L.A., the car got plenty of stares, so it's possible Benz's designers did something right after all.
Mercedes-Benz has stayed true to the SL's roots, crafting a lighter, more powerful, more fuel-efficient roadster that's as comfortable and classy as it is attention-getting and absurdly quick. Buyers put an SL in their garages to make a statement no matter where they roll. This Benz successfully does just that. Now how about those AMGs...
2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550
BASE PRICE $106,405
PRICE AS TESTED $124,345
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door convertible
ENGINE 4.7L/429-hp/516-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8
TRANSMISSION 7-speed automatic
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4104 lb (52/48%)
WHEELBASE 101.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 181.8 x 73.9 x 51.8 in
0-60 MPH 4.0 sec
QUARTER MILE 12.5 sec @ 114.0 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 105 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.94 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 25.0 sec @ 0.73 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 16/24 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 211/140 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 1.03 lb/mile
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1205_2013_mercedes_benz_sl550_first_test/
-=Hot|Ice=-
High-Rev Hero
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- Name
- Mo
Human
You. The Road. Nothing else.
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- Name
- Naas
It's a shame really
The SL has always been the design in Daimler's arsenal that stood up best to the test of time, because of it's timeless perfection.Then again the SLS AMG is such a good looker, nothing can compare in the looks department form Daimler.
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My biggest issue with it so far, is that it's just kind of.... "blah". Like it's lacking some soul that all the previous SL's had.... maybe it's too "plastic", metaphorically speaking?
Jury is still out for me, as I haven't even seen one driving yet. I will say, if I had an R230, I would NOT be feeling bad about having a recently turned "previous bodystyle" right now.
Jury is still out for me, as I haven't even seen one driving yet. I will say, if I had an R230, I would NOT be feeling bad about having a recently turned "previous bodystyle" right now.
Wolfgang
Kraftwagen König
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Cars.com Tests New iPhone Maps App in a Mercedes-Benz SL550
From a performance standpoint, both apps match up pretty well, which is a great accomplishment given that Apple said it built its mapping system from scratch. But after all that work, it still looks like a prettier version of the Google app.
We will have to wait until we test Siri's functionality, but neither app delivered many results in a search for "gas station." "Gas" and "Find gas station" returned fewer results and took a lot of time to deliver them.
And as the nav system in the Mercedes reminded us, voice prompts updated as you move are extremely helpful in keeping your eyes where they should be — on the road and not a 3.5-inch screen, even if it is a Retina display.
Maps for iOS 6 doesn't bring the iPhone closer to a GPS device; at this stage, it's more of an iterative improvement that will make current users happier. It won't replace your nav system, certainly not one surrounded by the SL.
I would hardly decribe the new SL as a disaster. It is am imposing car in person. Much more than the last. I like the overall shape a lot. In fact I find it flows very well. The lights are a little distracting. They fit much better in person than in pictures. The angled photos don't capture the upright front well at all.
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I still gotta see more on the roads to figure out whether I think it has an identity and character befitting for the nameplate it wears. Hopefully I really fall for it.
On another note, I think the SLK is actually a great looking little car for what it is. I saw a new "55" and the front especially was gorgeous. M-B always makes the hottest fronts in the world.
On another note, I think the SLK is actually a great looking little car for what it is. I saw a new "55" and the front especially was gorgeous. M-B always makes the hottest fronts in the world.
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Not all, but new A Class, C Class, E Class, S Class, M Class, CLS, SLK, SLS and SL, especially AMG models, really are the best looking in their category. They have presence, style, identity, agressivity are still are classy and not overdone or caricatural. They badly make you want to drive a Merc.
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I agree, Merc fronts have always been the most arresting. Sure they've flubbed some front ends really badly, but for the most part, their fronts are all that you said. Even though the CLS and SL have these truck-like blunt front ends, which don't look very good from up close due to the stupid pedestrian regs, when you step back, they look gorgeous, like instant classics. It shows that M-B's frontal design prowess can transcend through even pedestrian regs that are destroying most automakers fronts.
Wunderkind
Chicane Challenger
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- 2,325
I saw the new SL in person for the first time today and it looks quite nice in person. The headlights make the car looks broader wider than it really is. The sculpted lines on the bonnet gives it a nice chiseled look. I think this car would look better in darker colors.
Actually the car is super wide. If you open the hood on this thing you really see it.
Compared to the previous generation launch, there is no comparison. This car is not getting the attention. Of course the economy is a little different today than it was in 2002.
IMO, the car is not all it can be. No way a 105k car should have Keyless go as optional. The car has some quirky elements. If you are paying $105k plus, the car should be beyond stellar. A head turner in every regard. Yet there are several elements that look just like an SLK. I had a long time customer tell me they were not wowed, and bought a granturismo insead. That isn't acceptable. The dash is just a mess. Things don't line up, and any designer knows that symmetry is essential to beauty. Too much attention was paid to making it look like the interior of the SLS.
The funky headlights are actually now one of my least concerns. They play much better in person.
Compared to the previous generation launch, there is no comparison. This car is not getting the attention. Of course the economy is a little different today than it was in 2002.
IMO, the car is not all it can be. No way a 105k car should have Keyless go as optional. The car has some quirky elements. If you are paying $105k plus, the car should be beyond stellar. A head turner in every regard. Yet there are several elements that look just like an SLK. I had a long time customer tell me they were not wowed, and bought a granturismo insead. That isn't acceptable. The dash is just a mess. Things don't line up, and any designer knows that symmetry is essential to beauty. Too much attention was paid to making it look like the interior of the SLS.
The funky headlights are actually now one of my least concerns. They play much better in person.
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Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany.
Established in 1926, Mercedes-Benz Group produces consumer luxury
vehicles and light commercial vehicles badged as Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG,
and Mercedes-Maybach.
Its origin lies in Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft's 1901 Mercedes
and Carl Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which is widely regarded
as the first internal combustion engine in a self-propelled automobile.
The slogan for the brand is "the best or nothing".
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
Official website: Mercedes-Benz (Global), Mercedes-Benz (USA)
