German automobile company, Mercedes-Benz, has steadily produced beautiful, luxurious, and reliable cars for over 135 years. In their words, the brand is "one of the oldest and strongest luxury car brands in the world."
This automaker had made several cars one of which is the SL series, a grand touring sports car, and the fastest car of its time when it was first produced. Mercedes-Benz started the production of the road-legal version of this series, the SL, in 1954, and it is still in production to date. This shows how much success it has brought to this company.
Between the first year of production and now, the SL series has gotten several remodeling and facelifts. A model that got so much recognition is the 2007 model. It got a radical change in its engine, making it not just a luxurious car, but one with power and efficiency.
Evolution Of The SL Series
There was a lot of fanfare surrounding the SL series' very first production. It started in 1952 when Mercedes decided to make a super-light race car. The result of this decision was nothing short of stunning. The first model was named Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, and it had a 3.0L inline-six engine and an iconic styling. One of these earlier models shattered auction records as it got sold for $142,000,000.
Although Mercedes did not design its first model to be a road-legal vehicle, this was still the beginning of one of its longest production series, the SL. In 1954, Mercedes decided to make the first road-legal version of this series; the rest they say is history. From then till now, they've not turned back.
After several years of remodeling this icon, Mercedes-Benz decided to make its new model a retractable hardtop, which goes down in about 15 seconds. In all these, it had a fairly large trunk space, which was a major advantage over its competitors.
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL500's Engine
The 2007 SL550 had a big advantage over its predecessor. The 2006 SL50 had a 5.0L V8 engine, producing 302 hp @ 5600 rpm. In its new model, Mercedes returned to a four-valve engine, which it once used in the 1990 SL500 model.
Its engine was a 5.5 liter dual overhead cam 32 valve V8. This engine produced 382 horsepower @ 391 lb. ft of torque, an impressive increase of 80 horsepower over the previous model. What this simply meant for this convertible was a serious increase in power. The 2007 SL550 model had a better engine and, of course, a fiercer performance. Its engine was just everything a sports car needed.
To transmit the power produced to its wheels, Mercedes mated this beast of an engine with a 7-speed automatic transmission as standard. It had a top speed of 155 mph and an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds, about 0.8 seconds faster than its predecessor. To help better handling for its powerful engine, Mercedes-Benz included an active body control (ABC) system. With this system, the automobile guarantees a smooth and quiet ride. Bringing it to a halt are befitting 12-inch front pedals and its 11.8-inch rear discs.
What Else Was New On The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550?
The 2007 SL550 didn't just get a major upgrade in its engine alone; the German automotive company also gave it a slight facelift. The car had a slightly different exterior, which is hardly observable. It came with side air vents to help better control air circulation and in addition to the number of slats on the front grille.
Aside from these minor changes, nothing else really changed on its exterior. It retained its "four-eyed" face, and fog lights remained intact. The cars had 18 inches light alloy-wheels. Overall, the car has beautiful and incredible external features. Its design is one of a kind, with flowing lines and a sporty look.
On the interior, it has the right modern information system for its time, even though these might be considered outdated today. Its audio system had an 8-speaker setup; however, its navigation system seemed a bit odd.
Its seats got more comfortable leathers and more range of options for the colors. Mercedes-Benz even experimented with two different shades of the same color, which turned out beautiful. This model also maintained its retractable hardtop roof, one of its most attractive features.
How Much Does The 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL500 Cost Today?
When the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550 was first produced, it sold for a starting price of about $96,000. While some people thought it was worth the money, others commented that the price was not worth it since the same amount could buy a brand-new Jaguar XK.
Today, one would hardly find a brand-new 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550 model. However, most nearly used ones cost below $40,000. According to the current listings on Hemmings, the price range of the neatly used model cost between $29,000 to 39,900, depending on its state of use.
The argument if this luxury convertible is overpriced or not is totally subjective; however, overall, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550 was not just about power but also luxury. It was a highly successful race-inspired sports car.