STAR STRUCK
Now available in SL 43 guise, we revisit the SL-Class, arguably Mercedes-Benz’s most legendary roadster
Know what the problem with a storied model like the SL-Class is? Continuing its legacy. It is never about the model name per se but the vision of the people that has brought it that far. So, the worst thing to do is to think that big shoes can be filled on auto-pilot, which is an especially pertinent concern given the long and illustrious lineage of the SL-Class.
Thankfully, the folks at Mercedes-Benz have not been resting on their laurels, which is why the SL has evolved into the striking sporting machine you see today.
Now branded under the “AMG” umbrella, the iconic SL-Class has been updated and is well-armed with the fangs to accompany the roadster’s edgy, sporty looks, in both the SL55 4Matic+ guise and the SL43 we have on test.
The “SL” moniker can be traced back 90 years. In the mid-1950s, a road-going version of the legendary 300SL race car “gullwing” was launched almost in tandem with the dainty 190SL roadster, thus creating two distinct personalities for the SL model — one racer, the other refined.
The 300SL would go into hibernation until the appearance of its spiritual successor in 2010, the SLS — a gorgeous gullwinged spectacle with a heaving naturally-aspirated V8 under its bonnet — until its discontinuation in 2015.
On the other hand, the 190SL’s lineage as a genteel grand tourer continues uninterrupted, with this latest R232 being the seventh iteration to bear the legendary model plate.
Just like the two other convertibles in this issue (the Roma Spider and the DB12 Volante), we like that Mercedes has brought back the soft top, a feature we feel contributes to the SL43’s elegant silhouette.
However, that is the only thing “soft” about it, because Mercedes-Benz has clearly unified the two SL personalities within this current incarnation, with ample bite injected into the car so it performs as well as it cruises.
The SL43’s heart is a four-cylinder, which neatly ties back to the original 190SL — the new model is turbocharged, though.
Additionally, technology trickle-down from the brand’s F1 involvement sees the use of an electric exhaust gas turbocharger in the new SL, which improves responsiveness across the engine’s rev band.
Although its proportions look daunting, the SL43 is a doddle to pilot around thanks to the rear-axle steer system, which also transforms it into a nippy handler.
Great roof-down visibility makes positioning the car precisely easy. The car also receives the familiar in-car MBUX system, including a ginormous Dynamic Central Display — a free-standing, tilt-adjustable touchscreen.
As far as Singapore roads are concerned, the 381hp and 480Nm pushed out by the responsive four cylinder offer plenty of punch for the cut and thrust of urban traffic, with a complementary dramatic soundtrack to go with the action.
Furthermore, its dynamic repertoire has sufficient verve to rekindle one’s love for the winding roads as you start carving into the corners, with the “Sport Leicht” (or Sport Light) demonstrating how light it is on its feet.
Cornering capers aside, the SL43 is still eminently suited for cruising, and this is something to be relished on cool evenings (or early Sunday mornings) with the roof down.
In any event, it is always hard not to be star-struck whenever you are in the presence of the SL, regardless of generation and whether or not the roof is up or down.