Sixth generation notwithstanding, the 2013 Mercedes-benz SL 550 is all-new and a great drive
It might be in its sixth generation, but calling the 2013 MercedesBenz SL 550 old or dated would be defamation of character. In fact, it’s in the best shape of its life.
Not only is it more athletic in appearance, it has grown to take on some modern characteristics and is all-new.
From the moment I slipped into the SL’s leather seats, I was engulfed with luxury. From the redesigned interior and the threespoke steering wheel to the gear selector, all its parts worked symbiotically to create a serene cabin ambience.
But its exterior evokes other emotions, which are geared to make your senses tingle rather than relax.
With such defining features as a long hood with two air inlets with chrome-plated fins, a standard AMG styling package and chrome-plated twin trapezoidal exhaust pipes, the sportiness of Mercedes’s racing and supercar heritage comes into play.
Underneath its glamorous Obsidian Black Metallic skin is a lightweight, all-aluminum body, which helps it shed a few pounds to make it an even more lethal performance vehicle.
The SL 550’s zero-to100km/h acceleration time takes a mere 4.6 seconds.
That’s possible thanks to a potent 4.6-litre Biturbo V8, which creates a healthy 429 horsepower and 516 footpounds of torque. Matched with a 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, you have the option of letting the vehicle decide which gears it would like to be in, or you can shift them manually via the steering-wheel paddle shifters.
The sound the engine and the exhaust make is best experienced with the fully electronic retractable hard top folded down. This takes a short 20 seconds, for both folding down or raising up.
And when it comes to sound, the SL 550’s cabin is very quiet with the top up. Wind noise is kept at bay, so carrying on a conversation without raising your voice is a reality.
With the top down, air does travel through the cabin, but its electronic draft-stop (aka the windscreen), when in the upright position, takes away a lot of the hair tousling that comes with convertible territory.
Aside from having a very livable suspension, meaning you can comfortably use this rear-wheel-drive vehicle as an everyday driver, the standard amenities inside — like Eco start/stop technology, Active Body Control (ABC), Harman Kardon Logic7 surround-sound system and more — make for a pleasurable drive.
The SL 550 also came with the Premium Package that is offered as an option and is certainly handy to have. For the $4,800 price tag, that includes a rear-view camera, Climate Comfort front seats, Airscarf, Drive-Dynamic multi-contour front seats, hands-free access (automatic door/trunk unlocking via foot-swipe sensors under the car), Easy-Pack power trunk closer and Keyless-Go.
The rear-view camera came i n extremely useful whenever the roof was up. Since the silhouette of the 550 echoes coupe-like characteristics, visibility is hindered. But the camera lets you parallel park and back up with ease.
But one of my favourite features is the Airscarf. Integrated into the driver’s and passenger’s headrest is a heating vent that will blow warm air onto your neck as you drive along. Female driv- ers, to get the most out of this feature, might want to tie their hair back. It only makes sense when you’re driving, right?
I could be quite comfortable taking this two-door beauty on a long road trip, but I’d have to pack light. When the retractable hardtop roof is up, it yields 17.8 cubic feet of trunk space. With the top down — which is the best way to drive the SL 550 — the cargo capacity is reduced to 12.9 cubic feet.
Despite its performance-inspired parts, the SL 550 has an estimated fuel economy of 11.9L/100km in the city and 8.1L/100km on the highway.
How can it achieve such results? By using the Eco mode regularly. But should you choose to take the vehicle out of Eco mode and enjoy the delicacies of driving in a sportier mode, those figures just might go out the open roof.