2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Quick-Change Artist

The Mercedes-Benz SL-Class can transform from a coupe to a roadster in mere seconds, then disappear into the distance just as swiftly.

The venerable Mercedes-Benz SL-Class luxury roadster is a versatile vehicle. With its top up, it’s a fixed-roof coupe, quiet on the highway and capable of keeping the elements at bay. With the top down, it provides wind-in-your-face, sun-drenched excitement.

It’s a classy machine, and if you opt for one of the massively powerful AMG versions, it’s capable of outrunning almost every other car currently made. The model line receives new front and rear styling and more powerful engines for 2009.

The slick power-retractable hard top is a show in itself, like the original SL’s vertically opening “gullwing” doors in the 1950s. Today’s doors open normally, but the top opens and folds away cleanly behind the rear seats at the push of a button, enabling the car to go from closed coupe to full roadster in a few ticks of a Rolex. What’s more, it can be fitted with an optional glass roof panel so you can enjoy the view with full protection from Mother Nature.

A 5.5-liter V8 generates 382 horsepower and comes with a seven-speed automatic transmission that has a manual-gear-selection mode smart enough to adapt its shift patterns to a motorist's driving style.

A larger V8 motivates the new higher-performance SL63 AMG version, which kicks out a blazing 518 hp.

But the power pursuit doesn’t end there. The twin-turbocharged V12 engine in the SL600 produces 510 hp, and the even-more-awesome SL65 AMG has a hand-built, 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 that produces 604 hp.

Finally, there is the limited edition SL65 AMG Black Series, which uses a specially modified version of the SL65’s engine to dispatch a tire-shredding 670 hp. These models are priced in Ferrari territory.

Mercedes’ Active Body Control suspension maintains optimal handling and a smooth ride at all times, and it enables the car to careen through even the sharpest corners without a hint of body roll. A long list of high-tech features helps the driver maintain control, including four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist and Sensotronic Brake Control, electronic stability control and Automatic Slip Control. All those systems are recalibrated in the AMG versions for more aggressive cornering abilities.

Inside, the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is dressed up with high-quality materials and opulent leather treatments. AMG versions feature race-car inspired carbon-fiber trim. A hands-free phone and satellite radio with six months of service are on the roadster’s extensive list of standard features. Side airbags, a pop-up roll bar and the TeleAid emergency communications system are also standard.

Is the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for You?

Buy the SL-Class if	You want a flexible roadster that offers the all-weather comfort of a coupe and the sunny-day appeal of a convertible.
Keep Looking if	You’re on a budget and/or need to carry more than one rider at a time.
Who Fits?	Two adults will find nothing to complain about in the SL’s coddling leather-clad and wood-trimmed interior.
Closest Competitors	Bentley Continental GTC BMW 6 Series Convertible BMW M6 Convertible Cadillac XLR Jaguar XKR Convertible Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
Did You Know?	While a vehicle called the “American Mercedes” was sold briefly in the United States at the turn of the 20th century — piano mogul William Steinway built it in Long Island City, N.Y., under license from Gottlieb Daimler — Mercedes-Benz didn’t begin selling cars here in earnest until 1952. For most automotive aficionados of that era, the brand was known for its legendary 300 SL coupe, from which the current line of SL roadsters has descended. The 300 SL had futuristic styling, with dramatic “gullwing” doors that swept up when they opened. Its 3.0-liter, 215-hp six-cylinder engine propelled the coupe to a top speed of 155 mph, which is truly fast even by today's standards.