Description
SL500
Initially, the SL was available in one version, the SL500. This was also the most popular engine with the R129, so it was logical that the M113 5.0 V8 with 306 hp could be found in the SL. Thanks to the torque of 460 Nm, it was a very pleasant engine and in principle more than sufficient for acceptable performance. Because the engine was identical to that of the old SL500, a comparison could be made easily. The new SL had become a lot sportier. Of course it was not a Caterham competitor, but steering and road holding were at a higher level without compromising comfort.
This was partly due to Active Body Control, a system that debuted on the Mercedes CL and ensures that the carriage does not 'roll' in bends but remains neatly flat. What also helped was the fact that aluminum was used. Even though the SL R230 was longer than the R129 and of course had a folding roof, the SL had lost 50 kilograms in weight. In short, the SL was sportier than ever and could even be seen as a competitor for a Porsche 911 Cabrio, of which the 996 generation had become more of an all-rounder.
