Sunday 28th February 2016

Mercedes-Benz SL500: Review

SL goes to California, gets a nose job and new gym-fit body - are the results convincing?

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For all the ferocity of the two AMG models (more on these shortly) the definitive Mercedes SL is arguably the V8 500. Possibly one of the definitive Mercedes models full stop. Basically, the day they cock this one up is the day the three-pointed star stops shining over Stuttgart. This may be 'just' a facelift. But in that context an important one.

455hp V8 for 'civilian' non-AMG SL500 - gulp

In addition to a new look the SL has gained a few upgrades and extra gadgets and gizmos. The BlueDirect 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 SL400 is bumped from 333hp to 367hp, torque climbing from 354lb ft to 369lb ft - same as the new C43 4Matic Coupe which uses the same engine.

This SL500 stays at 455hp after an earlier 20hp boost over the 435hp it launched with, the SL550 badging in the photos its US market designation. Torque remains at a more than adequate 516lb ft. Both cars now get the 9G-Tronic transmission as standard and, chassis-wise, there are now two further options over the coil-sprung, adaptively damped Dynamic Select base. AMG Line increases spring and damper rates and drops the car 10mm but the really interesting one is the £3,080 step up to Active Body Control with Curve Tilt Function.

Nine-speed auto among upgrades

Lean on me
If not a snappy name it is descriptive, the existing ABC hardware - basically plunger-driven hydraulic servos that, independent of the dampers, can firm up to control roll - now able to proactively lean the SL into the bends. We've already seen it on the S-Class Coupe and, while a 2.65-degree tilt might not sound like much, when you see a car tip the 'wrong' way into a turn it does slightly mess with your head.

There's a huge array of uprated safety and infotainment-based gizmology too but, day to day, you're more likely to notice things like the now automatic boot separator. This means you can retract or restore the hardtop roof at speeds of up to 25mph (though only if you started the move at a standstill) without having to stop, curse, get out and put the luggage separator in place first. As one Mercedes chap said to us, 'why did we not have this before?!'

Nip and tuck has done wonders

And of course there are the aesthetic tweaks. The original R231 wasn't an especially graceful looking thing but this update restores some of the sleekness of the previous R230. Again, Mercedes folk we spoke to on the launch all quietly acknowledged the first version was a little heavy-handed styling-wise and making it look sharper was top of the to-do list.

Sports lite
Let's get this straight before going any further - the SL500 isn't a sports car. But then the SL never really has been. ABC and Curve Tilt whatnots permit preservation of the comfort, refinement and maturity SL buyers have enjoyed for decades with additional poise and focus if you do want to press on a bit.

Two cars for price of one!

Something the SL500 is entirely happy to do. The bald figures aren't too far off those of an SL55 of a few years ago and this feels like a very rapid car. The kerbweight isn't shy but the car feels as light as the aluminium structure suggests it should be; thank the inherent stiffness of the shell for that and the scope it offers the suspension engineers to correctly set spring and damper rates.

Mercedes chassis set-up is absolutely top of the class at the moment, the ability to separate damping from roll control meaning they can leave the dampers to control ride without having to worry about containing body movement as well. The result is a frankly sublime ability to filter out pitter-patter secondary noise but also deal authoritatively with bigger primary lumps and bumps. Whether at maximum attack or maximum waft it really is a masterclass in both structural and suspension engineering.

Just scrapes within chintz threshold

Nine times table
The steering is light but positive, this characteristic shared with all the controls and general nature of the car. It'll cover ground very rapidly indeed without asking too much of you but still manages enough interaction for it to be enjoyable. AMG-style driver modes are now extending throughout the range and in the SL500 you can have Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and (if fitted) Curve, the latter enabling the tilt function. You can add it to your Individual hot key too and, on the road, the initially weird sensation soon becomes surprisingly natural. As a driver you need to adapt, the tip into the turn typically meaning it feels like you've got a degree or two too much of lock on at first. It works best on long, steady-state bends like motorway slip roads, feeling a little odd if you're chucking the car this way and that over cambers on twisty mountain roads.

Feelgood factor is strong with this one

The best mode for all-round driving would appear to be Sport, this offering a nice mid-way blend of response and refinement. Comfort does you for around town but Sport+ is, frankly, a little unpleasant given how snatchy the throttle becomes. Sport seems to calm the nine-speed gearbox's need to hunt around for ratios, impressively predicting the gear you'll need and rarely caught needing to suddenly kick down two or three. You can flap the paddles around too, fourth, fifth and sixth enough cross country and meaning you're not too busy trying to find a ratio that works.

At the core of it all remains the SL's still unique ability to operate equally well as a roadster or a coupe, something no rival seems yet able to offer an alternative to. There are alternative products in the price range but, really, the SL is in a class of its own, meaning Mercedes' only real competition is with itself. This hasn't led to complacency, the improvements in looks, kit and performance more than enough to consider this facelift worth the effort.

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MERCEDES-BENZ SL400
Engine: 2,996cc twin-turbo V6
Transmission: 9-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 367@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 369@2,000-4,000rpm
0-62mph: 4.9sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,735kg (EU, with 75kg driver)
MPG: 36.7 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 175g/km
Price: £73,805 (OTR, before options)

MERCEDES-BENZ SL500
Engine: 4,663cc twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 9-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 455@5,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 516@1,800-3,500rpm
0-62mph: 4.3sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,795kg (EU, with 75kg driver)
MPG: 31.4 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 205g/km
Price: £82,850 (OTR, before options)

[CHARLIE 995]

I do think this looks fantastic - probably the best looking SL since the later model R129 - but I still feel it is being outclassed by the S-class cabrio, in terms of style and particularly the interior.
I know its a lot more money, but sometimes its as if the SL is just being revived for historical reasons while the majority of effort is being put into other models. It hasn't had a completely new body shape since 2001!