From full-blooded racing car to open-top luxury sports car

The new Mercedes-AMG SL reaches a new benchmark in its long and illustrious history of development, which spans decades and spans from full-blooded racing car to open-top luxury sports car. It combines the athleticism of the first-generation SL with the one-of-a-kind luxury and technological superiority that are hallmarks of modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

A number of high-tech features, such as the AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL suspension with active anti-roll stabilisation, rear-axle steering, the AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system, and the standard-fit DIGITAL LIGHT with projection function, all contribute to the sporty appearance of the vehicle. When you combine that with the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, you get the highest possible level of driving pleasure. The SL was developed from the ground up by Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach to serve as the company's very own dedicated Performance Luxury vehicle.

A sports car that was first sold in Stuttgart some seventy years ago is today considered a legend in the industry. The first Mercedes-Benz SL was a racing sports car that could be driven on the road. This was part of the company's plan to make the brand more well-known by doing well in motor racing. After making its debut in 1952, the 300 SL, which was officially designated as the W 194, was an instant hit not just with race spectators but also with reviewers. Remarkable first-year achievements include a one-two finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a clean sweep of the top four slots at the Nurburgring Grand Jubilee Prize for sports cars. Both of these victories took place at the Nurburgring. The lightning-fast rise to fame that it experienced is proof of its legendary reputation.

With the success of the racing version of the 300 SL in 1954, it was placed into production as the W 198. Because of the way its doors were made, it was often called the "Gullwing." In 1999, a group of people who write about cars named it "Sports Vehicle of the Century." Other well-known models include the "Pagoda" (W 113, made from 1963 to 1971), the "Evergreen" (R 107, made from 1971 to 1989), and the "Wedge-shaped" (R 129) model, which looks like a piece of car sculpture because of how its body is made. Even now, the letters "SL" are one of the few real signs for cars that can be found all over the world.

In the open-top luxury sports car's decades-long evolution from a full-blooded race car, the Mercedes-AMG SL ushers in a new chapter that represents a significant turning point. It is a fusion of the sportiness of the first-generation SL with Mercedes-trademark Benz's style, which combines luxury and innovation.