Mercedes SL 400 Sport to replace the entry-level SL 350 and power hike for SL 63 AMG.
Feast your eyes on the Mercedes-Benz SL 400 Sport. The new convertible will replace the SL 350 entry-level model, with prices starting from £72,500. First deliveries will begin arriving in the UK in July 2014.
A brand new 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder gives the SL 400 333hp and 480Nm of torque from just 1,600rpm. This helps give a 0 to 62mph time of 5.2 seconds, down from the SL 350’s 5.9 seconds, and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph.
You’re probably thinking this open-top Merc will be a right old gas-guzzling, ozone-destroying motor. The reality is that it can manage 36.7mpg ─ that’s better than some family cars. The CO2 emissions are pretty good too, coming in at 178g/km.
The Merc SL 400 Sport comes fitted with AMG 5-spoke alloy wheels, AMG front and rear aprons and side skirts, body-coloured boot lid spoiler, sports suspension, DAB digital radio, Magic Vision Control wiper blades, Frontbass subwoofers and tyre pressure monitoring as standard.
Inside you get an instrument cluster with a ‘chequered flag design’, flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with gear shift paddles in silver (the colour, not the rare metal), brushed light aluminium trim and floor mats of the AMG variety.
The Mercedes SL 400 Sport remains the cheapest model in the range below the SL 500 Sport, SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG.
Speaking of which, the SL 63 AMG has been given a 48hp power increase, taking the total to 585hp. Even more impressive is the extra 100Nm of torque, giving you 900Nm at your disposal. Yes, 900Nm. Bonkers. Better still, emissions and fuel efficiency are said to be the same.
An AMG rear axle limited-slip differential is now standard on the SL 63 AMG. This, according to Mercedes, improves traction and ‘lateral dynamics’. Oh, and you can now shell out £1,580 if you want your AMG engine bay covered in yummy carbon fibre.
The SL 400 Sport and 500 Sport will set you back £72,500 and £81,915, respectively. The SL 63 AMG is £112,510 and the SL 65 AMG is £170,815.
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