13 January 2023
The new Mercedes-AMG SL 55 is the beginning of a new age for this legendary roadster.
Formerly a two-seat grand tourer, the SL now wants to be a true sports car, and it’s certainly got the credentials for it - its chassis was developed by AMG, and under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
However, if it wants to prove itself as something more than a Sunday afternoon cruiser, it’s got to prove itself to the king of usable drop-top sports cars - the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet.
Can the new SL beat the 911 and cement itself as a true sports car? Join Richard Lane as he finds out.
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Mercedes may well have benchmarked the 911, but I seriously doubt if their goal was to beat it at its own game. Reason being SL and 911 buyers are largely from a different demographic when it comes to vehicle purchase, and Mercedes knows this only too well. I suspect that's why Richard found the SL a little lacking in certain areas and stuck somewhere between GT and Sports Car, because Mercedes was not trying to build a sports car, like the 911. As Just Saying comments, its really down to where your priorities lie?
Great piece.
Altermately it really depends on one's mood as to which car keys to grab in the morning!