Tuesday 16th September 2014

Mercedes SL400: Review

Can a Mercedes SL with a new and downsized engine still live up to its traditional strengths?

---

Sports Leicht - that's what SL stands for. But it hasn't really been either of these things since the debut of the original Gullwing 60 years ago. But that's OK. If you want a proper sporty roadster you can have a Jaguar F-Type Convertible. Heck, even the 911 soft-top looks half acceptable these days and if that doesn't float your boat you can go half rice, half chips with the rather smart looking new Targa.

SL400 has twin-turbo 3.0-litre. Obviously

For those who want to enjoy roof down driving en route to the golf club car park without ruffling their toupe too much the SL remains the boss though. This latest R231 is very much in keeping with the two-seat, open top S-Class vibe first really tapped into in the 'Dallas' R107 version that ran throughout the 70s and 80s.

This latest SL appeared two years ago and although it actually looks like a further bastardisation of the heavy-handed 2008 facelift applied to the once slinky R230 of 2001 it's in fact an all-new car. And a technically fascinating one. In an attempt to at least live up to the 'leicht' bit it's Mercedes first all-aluminium passenger car, the base SL350 140kg lighter than its predecessor. Open the boot lid and the unmistakable weave of carbon fibre is visible. It may be a bit pink chinos in reputation but it's bang up to date in its engineering.

The car you see here is the V6 SL400, announced earlier this year as a replacement to the entry level SL350. Twin turbo'd and downsized to three litres you wonder why they didn't take the opportunity to revive the '300' badge, given its historical resonance. Regardless, with 333hp and 354lb ft the new engine is 27hp and 81lb ft up on the normally aspirated 3.5 and considerably more potent than the 5.0-litre SL500 that launched the R230 range back in 2001. Most significantly to the way it drives that extra torque is available from 1,600rpm to 4,000rpm too, the old 350 not giving its meagre 273lb ft until 3,500rpm.

Opulent as standard, even more so with options

In menacing black and loaded up to a faintly astonishing £90K from its £72,500 base price, this press car makes the best of the new SL's rather fussy and heavy handed looks. Indeed, in this paint scheme there's a whiff of traditional 30s Benzes like the imperious 540K. And there's nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

Inside it's a lot more stylish and properly luxurious, the chunky aluminium vents, thick leather and endless gadgets and gizmos - many prefixed 'Magic' - decisively stamping out any hint of sportiness. But that's OK - if you have a Mercedes habit, a desire for something more focused and a similar amount of money to burn you'll shortly be able to spend it on the AMG GT and go chasing F-Types and 911s. Leaving the SL to do its wafty thing in isolation.

If you can get over the lack of cylinders under that long bonnet the SL400 is a really rather nice thing too. The new twin-turbo V6 is deliciously smooth and revvy and much more enthusiastic than the functional old 3.5. It pulls with as much vigour as you'd ever want out of an SL too, the extra torque and its early arrival to the party really turning the waft up to quite invigorating levels.

There's a bit more 'leicht' in sport leicht now

You can't help but feel a V8 would be more appropriate though. And you can still have one, also twin turbocharged and with 435hp. But it'll cost you another £10K. And the 400 really is a rapid enough, the variable ratio steering very light and pointy, roll-cancelling (optional) Active Body Control suspension increasing this surprising sense of agility. There is a Sport mode for the dampers but, really, it's not something you'd often be going for.

This is very much Mercedes preaching to the converted then and if, like a surprising number of us, you have a bit of a guilty pleasure for the SL it's nice to see it playing to its traditional strengths. If not at £90K. SL400, we'll look forward to revisiting you as a Spotted a few years down the line...

---

MERCEDES-BENZ SL400 SPORT
Engine: 2,996cc V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: 7-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 333@5,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 354@1,600-4,000rpm
0-62mph: 5.2 sec
Top speed: 155mph
Weight: 1,730kg
MPG: 36.7mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 178g/km
Price: £72,500 (£89,125 as tested, including 75-litre fuel tank £105, Active Body Control £3,080, Reversing Camera £265, Multi-Contour Seat Package £1,725, Airscarf £575, Ambient Lighting £260, door closing aid £315, Comfort Ventilated Seats £745, cup holders £75, wind deflector £525, Keyless-Go £1,605, Panoramic Roof with Magic Sky Control £1,875, Driving Assistance Package £2,350, Harmon Kardon sound system £1,150, telephone pre-wiring £410, Black Ash wood trim £345, Porcelain Nappa leather £710 and 19-inch AMG wheels £510)

 

[Dr Interceptor]

Small engines in the big SL is hardly a new notion...

This 333hp SL400 will punch some way above the old 193hp SL280

[Dr Interceptor]

MyCC said:

This review seemed like the car hadn't even be driven, just simply a regurgitation of the facts. Not enough information about how it drove to be useful IMO.

Regards,

MyCC.

The review on autocar actually has some details about what it's like as a car to drive...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/...

[Dr Interceptor]

dukebox9reg said:

No one else pick up on that the cheeky gits charge you more for a slightly bigger fuel tank. Surely a 'GT' should have a nice big fuel tank on the first place. Especially on a £70k plus car.

Once again the German manufacturers showing how they can price absolutely everything as an option.

Quite a few doing this now... gets the weight of the basic car down, improves efficiency figures.