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Some Interesting Details Concerning The Outstanding Mercedes Benz SL Class

Some Interesting Details Concerning The Outstanding Mercedes
Benz SL Class

By Rogburt Danielsson

The SL Class Mercedes Benz has been in production since 1954, currently in the fifth generation of its technological evolution. It is a two seater sports car featuring a retractable hardtop. The SL designation is derived from the German "sport leicht", which literally translates in to English as sport light, and is the flagship model of the Mercedes Benz range of automobiles.

SL Class models are available with a variety of engine configurations. The SL280 utilises a V6 petrol engine with a power output of 231hp and having a displacement of 5.5L. A turbocharger is added to that same engine and is used in the SL280 model, producing 315hp. A V8 petrol engine outputting 306hp with a displacement of 5.0L is utilised in the SL500, while the SL550 uses a 5.5L displacement petrol engine producing 382hp. Then there's the SL600 which boasts a massive V12 turbocharged petrol engine with 5.5L displacement, producing an impressive 493hp.

All the SL Class models are equipped with Mercedes Benz state of the art 7GTronic automatic transmissions, and some models have an option for the sports variation of this system which allows the driver to perform manual gear changes coupled to gear shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

The SL63 AMG and the limited production SL65 AMG the top of the line, flagship products from the SL range of roadsters by Mercedes Benz, both manufactured by its high performance wing, AMG. Since production, these two models have been the epitome of brilliance in automotive engineering. The engines that power these two vehicles are entirely handcrafted. The SL63 is powered by AMG's supercharged V8 petrol engine of displacement 5.5L, producing 525hp of power. The power is transferred to the wheels by AMG's new AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission, with a "Race Start" function which changes gears in record time to ensure speedier acceleration. The SL65 on the other hand is a rare, limited-production car. It sports AMG's turbocharged V12 petrol engine of displacement 6.0L, churning out 604hp of power, and a massive torque of 1000Nm, making it the most powerful series production roadster in the world. It is equipped with AMG's SPEEDSHIFT 5-speed automatic transmission.

Many innovative extra options are available due to the extensive research and development by the company. The security and comfort features are, as one would expect, top of the line. The SL Class was the first to use SBC, Sensotronic Brake Control, which electronically operates the brakes on individual wheels to prevent wheel lock under extreme pressure. Another optional fitment is the radar based system known as Distronic Cruise Control which regulates the speed of the vehicle to maintain the correct following distance from the vehicle in front.

Yet another innovation from Mercedes Benz is a system designed to virtually eliminate bod yroll, known as Active Body Control (ABC), it uses hydraulic servos as well as conventional springs and dampers to take out body roll during cornering. Another comfort feature, known as Airscarf, is a jet of warm air that is blown out through a nozzle at the back of the headrest when the hardtop is off.