This is the sixth SL generation to launch and as you expect its a giant leap on from the last one. It promised to scale new heights in terms of performance and efficiency, refinement and dynamism – but moreover, to offer an even more convincing blend of the intoxicating luxury and open-air sporting thrill for which Mercedes’ grand convertible has become so widely revered.
The ‘R231’ was a massive undertaking for Mercedes, the firm’s first series-production model to be made almost exclusively from aluminium. The SL’s sophisticated structure mixes die cast, chill cast, stamped and extruded aluminium with a little magnesium and ultra-high strength steel. A lighter all-magnesium folding hard-top roof and mostly aluminium body panels contributed to an overall kerb weight saving of up to 140kg. More importantly, the new underbody increased the car’s torsional stiffness by more than 20 per cent ideal for delivering good dynamic performance. The cars engine was given a new twin turbocharged V8 engine that was both more powerful and greener than its predecessor. With 429bhp and a huge 516lb ft of torque, it catapults the SL to 62mph in just 4.6sec – as fast as the last SL 63 AMG. It’s also capable of 31mpg on the combined cycle.
The car we have on offer here was ordered by its only owner complete with a factory pick up from Breme in Germany in September 2012 and driven back to the UK on its temporary German registration, which have been kept with the car. This car has been looked after extremely well and has full Mercedes-Benz service history with the same dealership doing the work each time. The owner was a fastidious one making sure that any paperwork and documentation pertaining to the car was kept, this included all the service bills, the German documentation and the original sales brochure for the SL range. The added extras include black ash wood trim, driving assistance package, keyless go, a Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system with 11 high performance speakers, panoramic glass roof, reversing camera, comfort seats with heated and ventilation, airscarf, active body control (ABC), wood and leather trim steering wheel, electric wind deflector, DAB radio, analogue clock on top of the dashboard, increased fuel tank capacity (75 litres), ambient lighting and closing aid for doors.