The Mercedes-Benz SL is one of the most iconic cars to ever come from Stuttgart since 1954, way before AMG was even a thing. The SL is Mercedes' longest-running nameplate. Across 70 years of production, the Mercedes-Benz SL radiates a sporty, elegant roadster ride built with the same formula since 1954: a lightweight 2-door coupe backed by a potent engine, simple stuff, but that is changing with the 2023 SL 43 AMG. Aside from their iconic SL55 and SL63, AMG brings 2+2 seater excitement and a powerful electric turbocharged powertrain.
With electrification and global demand diminishing engine size, Mercedes-AMG is now offering their SL with a 4-cylinder engine. The “Super-Light” AMG SL 43 gets a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine making 381 hp and 352 ft-lb of torque. New turbocharging technology by Mercedes-AMG is borrowed from the Petronas F1 car, combining an electric exhaust gas turbocharger for the first time in a production vehicle.
We will take a closer look at the innovative entry-level model of the Mercedes roadster icon in this article.
Fun Fact: Throughout its timeline, the SL has consistently set innovative milestones. The iconic 300 SL Gullwing was the world's first production car with direct fuel injection in 1954, the new Mercedes-AMG SL 43 is the first production car with an electric exhaust gas turbocharger.
A Closer Look At Electric Turbocharging: Abracadabra No Turbo Lag
The 2023 SL43 AMG carries the M139 turbocharged four-cylinder found in the CLA 45 and GLA 45 producing 381 hp and 353 lb-ft of torque. For the first time, Mercedes-AMG is mounting their M139 engine longitudinally and pairing it with the AMG Speedshift MCT 9G transmission. The SL43 AMG will do 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 mph. How the SL43 AMG makes its power is the most interesting and innovative part.
Mercedes-AMG engines have been all about turbo power in the past few years. With turbo comes turbo lag, which for those of you that don’t know is the gap in time it takes the turbo to kick and the driver to feel the acceleration. Turbo lag can last as much as 1 second - which doesn’t sound much on paper, except that it makes a difference on track. Turbo lag occurs because it takes time for the engine to create enough exhaust pressure to spin the turbo and pump compressed intake air into the engine.
Mercedes-AMG released an electric turbocharger back in 2020 to be first used on their Formula 1 engines. The idea behind an electric turbocharger is designed to combine the advantages of a compact turbocharger with fast response times and relatively low peak performance and a large turbocharger with high peak performance but delayed responses.
An electric motor sits between the turbine wheel on the exhaust side and the compressor wheel on the intake side. This motor is electronically controlled to match the speed of the compressor wheel and turbine wheel before exhaust pressure starts to spin conventionally, thus reducing turbo-lag and making for a more responsive turbo-four cylinder. This turbo technology, assisted by a 48-volt starter-generator can generate 14 additional ponies for short periods of time. In addition to temporary extra horses, the starter generator integration also brings hybrid functions like gliding mode and energy recovery for maximum efficiency.
Entry Level SL Nicer Than Ever, Cheaper Than Before
The current model year, R232 is one of the best-looking Mercedes SL ever made. The 2022 SL retains the same formula of long hood, short-deck proportions, and is more aggressive than ever.
The SL has always been an expensive Mercedes - hence the V8, V12 configurations it always came with, making it a pricey hot cake. Last generation SL plummeted in sales as it struggled to keep up with modern-day technologies and styling. Sales for the 2020 SL models were much lower of what Mercedes SL’ was selling back in the ’90s. The redesigned SL brings S-Class amenities, a redefined 2+2 seater with all the luxury features possibly found on any convertible. Speaking of which, the cloth top can be operated with speeds up to 37 mph, transforming the SL from a hot convertible to an exotic roadster in a full 15 seconds.
A Repurposed SL
The R232 SL is a completely repurposed SL - as mentioned above, the strugle in sales and hesitating to drop the longest-running nameplate by Mercedes shaped the SL into a very desirable roadster. To start with, the 2022 SL is longer in wheelbase, hence making space for 2 additional tiny rear seats (similar to the 1989 SL 4-seater). This makes the new SL even more versatile. The “Super Light” however is the center of focus for Mercedes-AMG. The new SL 43 is built using a material mix that makes it more rigid at low weight. The windscreen for instance is made out of a mix of aluminum, magnesium, fiber composites and steel. The chassis is made of lightweight aluminum composite and consists of an aluminum space frame with a self-supporting structure. The hardtop is no longer available with the 2022 SL, it only comes with a cloth top, reducing weight and lowering the center of gravity.
These measures allow for an 18% increase in torsional rigidity over the previous SL, as well as a 50% increase in transverse rigidity and a 40% increase in longitudinal rigidity over the AMG GT Roadster. The enhanced overall stiffness provides a superior foundation for more precise handling and agility.
To wrap it all up, the SL 43 AMG brings the most excitement at its best price ever. Backed by razor-sharp looks, a potent engine, and a timeline of Mercedes heritage, the SL 43 promises innovation and will surely give drivers a smile behind the steering.