Soft-top dollar
There’s been a lot going on in the Haus of SL and this isn’t a gentle aesthetic renovation so much as a complete foundation up rebuild the all new aluminium platform shares elements with the upcoming AMG GT replacement four wheel drive and rear steer back seats hello Porsche and a lighter fabric roof to name but a few The range consists of SL SL both V s with AWD and a lower powered RWD SL V which is yet to be sampled In the ’s case that means a familiar twin turbo V with
bhp and lb ft of torque respectable if not desperately impressive for a sports car costing just shy of k
It’s nicer on the inside than ever before deceptively spacious though those back seats are similar to the ’s in that they are very occasional and of good quality It’s not perfect some bits are a little lacking in tactility and the tiltable sun dodging in portrait touchscreen had a tiny wobble built in However it’s all also easy to understand and use slightly more so than the S Class system on which it’s based Weird
The electric fabric hood drops/raises in moments a pleasing mechanical ballet with the promise of excitement Mainly because the centrepiece of the SL experience is the V engine and accompanying exhaust notes Choose from various modes for the active systems suspension throttle exhaust and you can make the SL everything from raucous to refined And that engine is a peach bellowing on command crackling on the downshift without feeling synthesised
Yes the the ride quality suffers on a pockmarked UK B road but there’s a broad spread of ability here And when you do go fast you won’t be overly surprised that the SL feels very much like the current GT
nimble aggressive turn in and direction change and a sharp transition to oversteer Despite AWD the SL still feels like you can rotate it from the rear if you’re being a hooligan The nine speed dual shift gearbox is as seamless as ever although you never know what gear you’re in unless you’re capable of mathematical multitasking and with a mph time under secs and brawny torque it’s no slouch
Bluntly the SL is a belter Not as intimidating as a under power with a CV that covers both comfy touring and some edge on a tempting road It’s not perfect but the compromises are well judged for a proper sporting roadster The SL is back