Abbreviation of SL
Whether the abbreviation ''SL'' was derived from a 1931 Mercedes-Benz SSKL (Super Sport Kurz Leicht—Super Sport Short Light) isn't known. At the public introduction of 300 SL in 1952, Mercedes-Benz did not define the abbreviation ''SL''. The German magazine,W198 and W121 (1954—1963)
The 300 SL was a road-going version of W198 racing car with extensive modifications to the body. The 300 SL in coupé form was introduced in 1954, featuring its trademark gullwing doors. In 1957, the roadster succeed the coupé and had the larger conventional passenger doors and larger form-fitting headlamps and was in production until 1963. In 1955, the smaller 190 SL presented an attractive, more affordable alternative to the exclusive Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, sharing its basic styling, engineering, detailing, and fully independent suspension. Both cars had double wishbones in front and swing axles at the rear. Instead of the 300 SL's expensive purpose-built W198 tubular spaceframe, the 190 SL used a shortened unitary floorpan modified from the W121 base saloon. A 1.9-litre four-cylinder inline engine was used instead of 300 SL's engine. Both 300 SL roadster and 190 SL have soft fabric folding top and optional removable hardtop. The production for 300 SL and 190 SL ended in 1963 with the introduction of W113 SL-Class.Model Range
*300 SL (Gullwing): 1954–1957, 3.0 L I6 *300 SL (Roadster): 1957–1963, 3.0 L I6 *190 SL: 1955–1963, 1.9 L I4W113 (1963—1971)
Replacing both 300 SL and 190 SL, 230 SL was introduced in 1963 with distinctive concave roofline that earned the nickname "pagoda top". The W113 featured a low waistline, large curved greenhouse windows, detachtable hardtop, and a new 2.3-litre six-cylinder inline engine. For 1967, the engine was enlarged to 2.5 litres, and 230 SL was renamed as 250 SL. The changes were made to the interior with new dashboard padding, switches and knobs, steering wheel, and door pockets (US model only). The wheel covers fitted to 250 SL and 280 SL replaced the smaller hubcaps. A year later in 1968, the engine was enlarged again to 2.8 litres, and the 250 SL was changed to 280 SL.Model Range
*230 SL: 1963–1967, 2.3 L I6 *250 SL: 1966–1968, 2.5 L I6 *280 SL: 1967–1971, 2.8 L I6R107 (1971—1989)
In 1971, R107 was introduced with new design language and safety features that spread to the subsequent Mercedes-Benz models. For the first time, the V8 engines were fitted to the SL-Class. With the production from 1971 to 1989, R107 was one of few longest-produced vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. R107 received a very minor update in 1972 with new rubber-edged wing mirrors from W116 and a major update in 1985 for 1986 model year. The engine options were updated in 1980 for the 1981 model year with new aluminium V8 engines from W126 S-Class introduced in 1979 while the 2.8-litre six-cylinder inline engine carried over. It was updated again in 1985 for the 1986 model year with new 3.0-litre six-cylinder inline engine fromModel Range
*280 SL: 1974–1985, 2.8 L I6 *300 SL: 1986–1989, 3.0 L I6 *350 SL: 1971–1980, 3.5 L V8 *350 SL (4.5): 1972, 4.5 L V8 (exclusive for the US market) *380 SL: 1981–1985, 3.8 L V8 *420 SL: 1986–1989, 4.2 L V8 *450 SL: 1973–1980, 4.5 L V8 *500 SL: 1981–1989, 5.0 L V8 *560 SL: 1986–1989, 5.5 L V8R129 (1989–2001)
The R129, introduced in 1989, soley as a two-passenger convertible with a removable hardtop. The R129 was the first Mercedes to feature a fully automatic, hydraulically-operated fabric convertible top; V8 and (later) V12 engines with four valves per cylinder; projector lens HID headlamps (introduced in 1995); and an automatic rollbar, which self-deployed in a rollover event. The retractable rollbar could also be raised or lowered manually using a switch on the console, and facilitated occupant safety without compromising aesthetics. In 1992, R129 was the first SL-Class to offer an opotinal a V12 engine (600 SL/SL 600) and to have official AMG variants (500 SL 6.0 AMG, SL 60 AMG (V8), SL 70 AMG (V12), SL 73 AMG (V12), and then SL 55 AMG (V8)). The R129 was the last SL-Class offered with a manual gearbox. For the US market, R129 was the first SL-Class offered with six-cylinder inline engine from 300 SL-24 (named as 300SL) since the 1971. For 1995, a larger 3.2-litre engine was introduced in the SL 320, subsequently dropped from the US market in 1998. The 1994 R129 introduced a minor cosmetic and technical updates; revised engine optionas; as well as a new nomenclature. The 3.0-litre six inline engines, initially fitted with 12-valve (300 SL) and 24-valve (300 SL-24) heads, was revised to one engine in two displacements (2.8 and 3.2 litres) with both utilizing a 24-valve head. The V8 and V12 were carried over with no changes. 300 SL and 300 SL-24 became SL 280 and SL 320 while 500 SL and 600 SL were renamed as SL 500 and SL 600. In 1998, R129 received the major cosmetic and technical updates with revised engines to include the V6, V8, and V12 engines from the new W220 S-Class. All of those updated engines had three valves and two spark plugs per cylinder.Model Range
*SL 280: (1993–2001), 2.8 L I6 *SL 280: (1998-2001), 2.8 L V6 *300 SL: (1989–1993), 3.0 L I6 *300 SL-24: (1989–1993), 3.0 L I6 *SL 320: (1993–1998), 3.2 L I6 *SL 320: (1998–2001), 3.2 L V6 *500 SL: (1989–1993), 5.0 L V8 *500 SL 6.0 AMG: (1991–1992), 6.0 L V8 *SL 500: (1993–1998), 5.0 L V8 *SL 55 AMG: (1999–2001), 5.4 L V8 *600 SL: (1992–1993), 6.0 L V12 *SL 600: (1993–2001), 6.0 L V12 *SL 60 AMG: (1993–1998), 6.0 L V8 *SL 70 AMG: (1998–2001), 7.0 L V12 *SL 73 AMG: (1995 and 1998–2001), 7.3 L V12R230 (2001–2011)
The R230, introduced in 2001, continues the evolution of R129 with smoother body design and new peanut-shaped headlamp design. The fifth-generation SL-Class featured aModel Range
*SL 280: (2008–2009), 3.0 L V6 *SL 300: (2009–2011), 3.0 L V6 *SL 350 (3.7): (2003–2006), 3.7 L V6 *SL 350 (3.5): (2006–2011), 3.5 L V6 *SL 500 (5.0): (2001–2006), 5.0 L V8 *SL 500/SL 550 (5.5): (2006–2011), 5.5 L V8 (SL 550 is exclusive to North American market but is the same engine as the SL 500) *SL 55 AMG: (2002–2008), 5.4 L V8 *SL 600: (2002–2011), 6.0 L V12 *SL 63 AMG: (2008–2011), 6.2 L V8 *SL 65 AMG: (2004–2011), 6.0 L V12 *SL 65 AMG Black Series: (2008–2011), 6.0 L V12R231 (2012–2020)
Mercedes-Benz launched sixth generation SL, internally designated R231, at the North American International Auto Show in January 2012. The R231 introduced aluminum bodywork, its weight advantage offset by higher safety and convenience equipment. New features included a system markete4d as 'FrontBass', which used space in the aluminium structure ahead of the front footwells as resonance spaces for the bass loudspeakers. Additionally, standard equipment included an adaptive windscreen wipe/wash system which supplied fluid from the wiper blade itself, as needed and depending on the direction of wipe. The R231 was available with two suspension systems: semi-active adjustable damping as standard and active suspension system ABC (Active Body Control) as an extra-cost option. Both types featured electro-mechanical, speed-sensitive power steering, which allowed the variable steering ratio across the steering wheel angle. The R231 was longer and wider than its predecessor. Shoulder room is increased by and elbow room . A mid-cycle update was introduced in 2016 for the 2017 model year along with revised engine and transmission options. A 9G-TRONIC Plus 9-speed automatic transmission was fitted to the SL-Class for the first time (SL 400/SL 450 and SL 500) while AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT and AMG SPEEDSHIFT Plus 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic transmissions for SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG respectively remained unchanged. SL 350 was renamed as SL 400 (SL 450 for the North American market). R231 had a revised front end, front grille treatment, and larger non-functional side 'vents' behind the front wheels. It also received adaptive LED front headlights with integrated daytime running lights and turn signals, leaving the below-bumper intake area free from lighting. The LED tail lights received single-colour red lenses (for North American market) or red-and-amber lenses (for the European and international markets) instead of the red and white lenses of the pre-facelift models. A slight revision to the folding 'Vario-roof' hardtop meant it could deploy at up to without the luggage compartment partition having to be deployed in a separate manual operation.Model Range
*SL 350: (2012–2014), 3.5 L V6 *SL 400/SL 450: (2014–2020), 3.0 L V6 (SL 450 is exclusive to the North American market) *SL 500/SL 550: (2012–2020), 4.7 L V8 (SL 550 is exclusive to the North American market) *SL 63 AMG: (2012–2018), 5.5 L V8 *SL 65 AMG: (2012–2018), 6.08 L V12R232 (2022–present)
The seventh generation of the SL-Class was presented in October 2021. The R232 is confirmed to be an AMG model only, designating it as Mercedes-AMG SL-Class. There are three powertrains, the entry-level powertrain being a 2.0L I4 mild hybrid engine found in the SL 43, producing 280 kW (375 hp). Two of the powertrains are 4.0L V8 biturbo gasoline engines, with the SL 55 developing a maximum of & , and the SL 63 developing a maximum of & . Both versions are available only with all-wheel-drive, a first for the SL-Class. The R232 is reverting to the soft fabric roof rather than the heavierSales
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
General
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