The first production SL — the letters stood originally for Sport Leicht, or "sport light" — was the 1954 300SL, better known as the Gullwing, followed by the 190SL Roadster.
The latest SL550 sports a smaller, more powerful, yet more efficient 4.7-liter direct-injection V8 engine fitted with a stop-start system and mated to a seven-speed adaptive automatic transmission. The engine makes 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, providing 0-60 acceleration in 4.5 seconds. That time is nearly a second quicker than for the 2012 model, which is also 275 pounds heavier than its successor.
In comparison, the 5.5-liter V8 in the current SL500 makes 382 hp and 391 lb-ft, and is rated by the EPA at 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. It is equipped with a seven-speed automatic.
Mercedes-Benz says the 2013 SL features the company's first application of an all-aluminum body shell on a series-production car. It is nearly 2 inches longer and more than 2 inches wider than the 2012 model, with more shoulder and elbow room in the cockpit.
