The iconic SL has been transformed from 'super-light' to 'superb luxurious', and in SL55 form, packs plenty of firepower, too.
Price tag and vehicle dynamics are just the tip of the iceberg, though. It is no ordinary sports car, for the SL's true purpose is to refresh a petrolhead's soul.When one thinks of a German sports car with heritage, chances are the Porsche 911 , which was first launched in 1963, immediately pops into mind.
The car looks cleaner, sleeker and meaner than its predecessor. Its bonnet seems lower and much wider, yet the designers have wisely refrained from giving it a massive grille and gaping air intake. Brashness is not part of the SL's DNA. Dominating the dashboard is the tablet-like 11.9-inch infotainment display, whose tilt angle can be adjusted from 12 degrees to 32 degrees at a touch of a button. It helps minimise screen glare when driving with the top down.
Thumb the starter button and the twin-turbocharged, 3,982cc V8 comes alive with a deep bark. Petrolheads within earshot can immediately tell that an eight-cylinder was just fired up. There's no mistaking this for any other type of engine. The SL might be a sleek grand tourer, but it sounds like an American muscle car when driven hard. Emission regulations are calling for the internal combustion engine to be phased out, but this V8 is giving them two middle fingers while yelling back, 'Hell no, I won't go!'
And when it comes to stopping, those dinner plate-size brake rotors give you plenty of confidence. The SL weighs nearly two tonnes, but it doesn't feel like it. Only when parking does the car annoy me. Rear-wheel steering is standard, but given the wide turning circle, I swear it doesn't work.