The SL has all of the glamour related to a convertible, with a correct sportscar driving expertise.
The SL is, in Mercedes’ phrases, its open-top luxurious sportscar, and it’s a mannequin with a celebrated lineage spanning over seven many years. This seventh-gen SL seeks to take the story ahead with just a few firsts to its title.
For starters, it’s the primary SL to be developed solely by AMG. The platform is all-new – not derived from different Mercs or older SLs – and is stiffer than any SL earlier than. This core AMG-ness additionally manifests in different firsts for the SL – rear axle steering and all-wheel drive. In step with the traditional SL script although is a material roof that comes instead of the last-gen mannequin’s folding exhausting prime. This transfer has saved the SL 21kg and helped decrease the centre of gravity, AMG says. Even so, the SL weighs in at a portly 1,875kg. Not precisely true to its ‘Sport, Gentle’ heritage.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 design and styling
Job primary for an SL has all the time been to seduce. And the most recent mannequin is rattling good at that. The lengthy bonnet, rear-set cabin and tight tail is traditional SL with styling unmistakably new age Mercedes. The swept-back headlights and 14-slat Panamericana grille add to the broad-shouldered SL’s brooding look, and there’s intelligent lively aero bits tucked into the air intakes. Rings on the 20-inch rims do their bit to assist air movement too, however personally I’d a lot relatively they weren’t there. 21-inch rims can be found as an choice, although their added type would doubtless be accompanied by successful in journey consolation.
The design combines traditional SL traits with new age Mercedes styling.
What’s good is that the SL doesn’t look cumbersome like many different convertibles do, and to me it’s the rear that’s the SL’s finest angle. There’s an class to the wide-swept tail-lights whereas on the identical time the retractable spoiler, quad exhausts and diffuser do set up the SL 55 as one thing critical.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 inside
You actually cannot be discreet in an open-top automobile and, with the roof down, truly share your dwelling house with fellow street customers. What they’re going to see of an SL’s inside is a excessive grade and a high-tech house. The high-grade visible is courtesy a beneficiant use of leather-based throughout the cabin, and tasteful metallic work on the beautiful turbine-look vents and centre console. The high-tech impression is partly all the way down to the digital driver’s show. The data-rich 12.3-inch display screen is actually vibrant and is customisable with seven themes.
The infotainment display screen’s angle is adjustable between 12-32 levels.
The centrepiece of the cabin, nevertheless, is Merc’s new 11.9-inch touchscreen. It’s a incredible show and is adjustable for angle between 12 to 32 levels, which implies glare-free viewing in all manners of lighting. The factor is, that it is simply an excessive amount of display screen for what’s an intimate cabin. The display screen additionally packs in manner an excessive amount of. All the pieces from local weather management settings to the roof operation is through the touchscreen. On the go, you’ll end up fumbling with the roof settings and it doesn’t assist that the display screen will get sizzling on sunny days. The complete means of roof opening or closing may be carried out at speeds of as much as 60kph and takes about 16 seconds, for those who can hold your finger in place for the length, that’s.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 options
Except for the digital dials, touchscreen and roof, the SL 55 AMG will get tastefully carried out customisable ambient lighting, there’s an outstanding 360-degree digital camera that takes away guesswork whereas parking and there’s even an information logger that you could geek out with on a race monitor. I’m unsure how watch aficionados will take to the traditional IWC now relegated to the display screen, although.
The roof operation is managed through the touchscreen, however a bodily button would have been extra useful.
AMG Efficiency seats are customary match, however sporty as they’re to have a look at, they’re unusually agency. You’d do properly to take a look at the optionally available AMG Sport seats that seem an entire lot cushier. Seat heating is included, and there’s additionally an Air Scarf that blows heat air close to the neck space – useful on chilly days. Seat air flow and therapeutic massage is a part of a Rs 3.6 lakh Energising Package deal Plus choice, whereas the punchy 17-speaker Burmester 3D sound system on our check automobile is a Rs 7.9 lakh choice. Gulp!
The protection suite consists of ADAS capabilities reminiscent of lane hold help and auto emergency braking.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 rear seats and practicality
The SL is a 2+2 so there’s seating behind the entrance seats, nevertheless it’s simply not for adults. Getting in with the roof down is straightforward sufficient, however with the entrance seats again in place, your passengers might be left with just about no legroom. Not serving to is the backrest that’s close to vertical. Don’t even ask about headroom with the roof up.
The backrest for the rear seats is close to vertical, and legroom is poor.
On paper, boot house is 208 litres with the roof down and 240 litres with the roof up. Nonetheless, these numbers imply little with the house saver spare tyre that takes up all of the room in right here. You’ll squeeze in just a few gentle luggage however not a lot else. The SL is just not essentially the most sensible automobile you should purchase, however then which convertible is?
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 efficiency
On a day when the climate is ok and circumstances allow driving with the roof down, few driving experiences match as much as that provided by a convertible. The expertise is immersive as is, and much more so in one thing like an SL. The SL 55 out there in India comes powered by AMG’s acquainted 4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, in 476hp and 700Nm tune. It’s not the angriest iteration of AMG’s V8, however efficiency is just not missing within the least.
Driving the SL with the highest down is an immersive expertise, extra so with the soulful-sounding engine.
The engine would not really feel extremely strung, and relatively affords a deep reserve of energy. A mild prod of the accelerator pedal grants all of the go you want, all with just some clicks of the rev needle.
0-100kph takes a claimed 3.9 seconds, which is correctly fast. After which there’s the soulful manner it sounds. It rumbles and it’s obtained the correct amount of roar – you will simply love listening to it bellow each alternative you get. In fact, the SL sounds its finest and is its sharpest in Sport and Sport+ mode. If something, it’s the 9-speed gearbox that appears to play catchup with the engine.
These of a calmer bent will like that you just don’t have to go all out to take pleasure in an SL. It feels robust, easy and comparatively serene in Consolation.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 dealing with and luxury
For a automobile on the mistaken aspect of 1.8 tonnes, the SL feels loads smaller and lighter than you’d count on. It’s not the sharpest sportscar that you could purchase, however the fast and well-weighted steering retains you related to all that the entrance and rear tyres are doing. The rear wheels, as talked about, can flip as much as 2.5 levels within the curiosity of finest stability and agility. Lengthy story quick, you may carry huge speeds with confidence.
The SL feels surprisingly mild and agile to drive.
What unconsciously helps to this finish is all-wheel drive. Certain, it’s a departure from the roadster script, however with 476hp and 700Nm, the added grip counts for lots. Merc’s 4Matic system is predominantly rear biased and channels energy to the entrance axle solely when wanted. You possibly can count on much more really feel with the optionally available AMG Dynamic Plus Package deal that packs in a restricted slip rear differential, dynamic engine mounts and a Race drive program.
A phrase on the optionally available Energetic Journey Management that includes hydraulically operated anti-roll bars instead of standard mechanical ones, with the tip purpose being to maintain the automobile drive as flat as attainable. The SL doesn’t really feel floaty and that’s a win. The choice additionally bundles in 30mm of entrance suspension carry. There’s about 125mm of clearance as customary so it’s a must to watch out over pace breakers. On the biggest of the type, you’ll need to zig zag your manner throughout and can inevitably maintain up visitors behind you. However, hey, these behind have gotten one thing very nice to have a look at.
The SL is kind of refined for a roadster with a material roof.
The SL 55 may even work as an on a regular basis automobile at a stretch. You do not sit that a lot decrease than you’ll in a midsized sedan, so you are not intimidated by different street customers and journey consolation is appropriate for this sort of automobile. The truth is, a lot of the firmness that you just really feel is definitely from the seats relatively than from the street and tyres. Refinement can be commendable. No, it’s not as quiet as a Mercedes sedan, however for a roadster with a material roof, it does an excellent job of isolating you. We didn’t expertise any creaks and rattles from the gentle prime. Price a point out as a result of creaks aren’t unusual in convertibles, even at this value level.
Mercedes-AMG SL 55 value and verdict
And the worth is – drum roll – Rs 2.35 crore (ex-showroom). That’s some huge cash for a automobile that you could take pleasure in to the fullest on just some days of the 12 months. However therein lies the magic of a convertible. These days and nights driving with the highest down might be etched in your reminiscence.
The SL has all of the glamour related to a convertible and backs it up with a correct sportscar driving expertise. Flamboyant, quick and enjoyable, the SL can be a tremendous addition to a multi-crore automobile assortment. Simply bear in mind to maintain the climate gods pleased.
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