The page isn't about basketball, but I'm a Knicks fan. That said, Kobe Bryant is the
best player in the game. LeBron is the best player "on his team". I like LeBron, but if
LeBron and Kobe were on the same team, the ONLY reason LeBron James wouldn't be on the bench
is because Kobe plays guard, and LeBron plays forward. If you need the BEST PLAYER, it's Kobe.
That's the R230. Some day, a better roadster may be built. Maybe. But for right now, for two
people, and not much luggage, the ONLY reason to drive something else has nothing to do with the
car.
Similarly, there's one Jeremy Clarkson. There is no second place. The second best automotive
journalist is not almost as good as Clarkson. The second best automotive journalist is a
journalist, who happens to write about cars. A better automotive journalist may come along one
day. Maybe. But until then - Clarkson. Period. BTW, Jeremy Clarkson sold his Ferrari F355. He
bought an SL55.
Clarkson's SL55
Vee-Eight Technical Data
Vee Twelve specs are located below
SL550
SL500
SL55
Vehicle type
Roadster
Engine
90-degree V8
Supercharged 90-degree V8
Engine material
Aluminum block and heads
Valvetrain
Chain-driven dual overhead camshafts per cylinder bank. 4-valve technology with variable
continuous camshaft adjustment on the intake and exhaust sides; valve actuation via
roller-type cam followers
Chain-driven single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank, three valves per cylinder
Valve arrangement
4-valves per cylinder
3-valve technology with two intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder
Displacement (cu. in./cc)
332.2 / 5,461
303 / 4,966
331.9 / 5,439
Bore (in./mm)
3.86 / 98.0
3.82 / 97.0
3.82 / 97.0
Stroke (in./mm)
3.56 / 90.5
3.31 / 84.0
3.62 / 92.0
Compression ratio
10.7:1
10.0:1
9.0:1
Horsepower @ rpm
382 / 6,000
302 @ 5,600
510 @ 6,10 0
Torque (lb-ft.) @ rpm
391 / 2,800 - 4,6800
339 @ 2,700 - 4,250
531
Intake system
Magnesium two-stage resonance intake manifold
Belt-driven supercharger
Engine management
ME 9.7 engine control with a single coil and spark
plug per cylinder, integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection
ME 2.8 engine control with phase-shifted twin spark ignition, two coils and spark
plugs per cylinder, integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection
Max. engine speed (rpm)
6,500
6,000
6,500
Transmission
Seven-speed electronically controlled automatic with Touch Shift and driver-adaptive
shift logic. Steering-wheel mounted gear shift buttons
Monocoque 2-door convertible with retractable hardtop
Stability control
Electronic Stability Programming (ESP) integrating single brake application,
throttle intervention for yaw control, plus throttle intervention for wheelspin
control.
Suspension
Four-wheel independent
Front suspension details
Independent 4-link, Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension includes a coil
spring and electronically controlled hydraulic cylinder in series, plus a gas
pressurized shock absorber, at each wheel. Non-AMG models have a driver-selectable
sport mode
Rear suspension details
Independent 5 arm multilink, Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension includes
a coil spring and electronically controlled hydraulic cylinder in series, plus a
gas pressurized shock absorber, at each wheel. Non-AMG models have a driver-selectable
sport mode
Steering
Rack-and-pinion, speed-sensitive hydraulic power assist and integrated hydraulic
damper
Turns, lock-to-lock
2.6
Turning circle
32.6 feet / 9.93 meters
Front wheels (in.)
8.5 x 18 ten-spoke light alloy
8.5 x 17 seven-spoke light alloy
8.5 x 19 AMG five-spoke
Rear wheels (in.)
9.5 x 18 ten-spoke light alloy
8.5 x 17 seven-spoke light alloy
9.5 x 19 AMG five-spoke
Front tires
255 / 40 ZR 18
255 / 45 ZR 17
255 / 35 ZR 19
Rear tires
285 / 35 ZR 18
255 / 45 ZR 17
285 / 30 ZR 19
Brakes
Hydraulic power assisted 4-wheel discs with ABS anti-lock; Brake Assist
Front calipers
four-piston floating
?
six-piston fixed
Rear calipers
single-piston fixed
four-piston fixed
Front disc type
vented
Rear disc type
solid
vented
Front disc diameter (in./mm)
13.8 / 350.5
12.28 / 312
14.2 / 360
Front disc thickness (in./mm)
.94 / 23.8
1.1 / 28
1.4 / 36
Rear disc diameter (in./mm)
12.6 / 320
11.8 / 300
13.0 / 330
Rear disc thickness (in./mm)
0.94 / 10
? / ?
1.4 / 36
Exterior dimensions (in./mm)
Wheelbase
100.8 / 2,560
Length
178.5 / 4,535
Width (without mirrors)
72.0 / 1,828
Front track
61.4 / 1,559
Rear track
60.5 / 1,537
Height
51.1 / 1,298
Curb weight
4,220 / 1,914
4,065 / 1,835
4,274 / 1,938.6
Weight distribution
51 / 49
Aerodynamic drag (Cd)
0.29 with the top up
Interior dimensions (in./mm)
Front head room
37.7 / 958
Front leg room
42.9 / 1,090
Front shoulder room
front 54 / 1372
Front hip room
56.9 / 1,445
Capacities
Interior volume (cu. ft.)
50.5
Trunk volume (cu. ft.)
10.2
Fuel tank (gal./liters)
21.1 / 79.9
Performance
0-60 (seconds)
5.3
6.1
4.4
Top Speed MPH
155 - electronically limited
155 - electronically limited / 186 with performance package
Fuel economy (city/hwy)
14 / 21
15 / 22
12 / 17
Vee-Twelve Technical Data
SL600
SL65
Vehicle type
Roadster
Engine
60-degree V12
Engine material
Aluminum block and heads
Valvetrain
Chain-driven single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank, three valves per cylinder
Valve arrangement
3-valve technology with two intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder
Displacement (cu. in./cc)
217 / 5,513
235 / 5,980
Bore (in./mm)
3.23 / 82.0
3.25 / 82.6
Stroke (in./mm)
3.43 / 87
3.66 / 93.0
Compression ratio
9.0:1
9.0:1
Horsepower @ rpm
510 / 5,000
604 @ 4,800
Torque (lb-ft.) @ rpm
612 / 1,900 - 3,500
738 @ 2,000 - 4,000
Intake system
Twin-turbocharged (one per cylinder bank) with dual liquid to air intercoolers
Engine management
ME 2.7.1 engine control with phase-shifted twin spark ignition, two coils and spark
plugs per cylinder, integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection
ME 2.8 engine control with phase-shifted twin spark ignition, two coils and spark
plugs per cylinder, integrated sequential multi-point fuel injection
Max. engine speed
5,950 RPM
Transmission
Five-speed electronically controlled with touch shift
3.59:1
2.19:1
1.41:1
1.00:1
0.83:1
3.17:1 for the SL600 and 3.16 for the SL65
1.93:1 for the SL600 and 1.95 for the SL65
Final drive
2.65:1
2.82:1
Body construction
Monocoque 2-door convertible with retractable hardtop
Stability control
Electronic Stability Programming (ESP) integrating single brake application,
throttle intervention for yaw control, plus throttle intervention for wheelspin
control.
Suspension
Four-wheel independent
Front suspension details
Independent 4-link, Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension includes a coil
spring and electronically controlled hydraulic cylinder in series, plus a gas
pressurized shock absorber, at each wheel. A driver-selectable sport mode is
an available option
Independent four-link, active electrohydraulic with load-dependent spring rates,
gas-charged shocks, coil springs, level control
Rear suspension details
Independent 5 arm multilink, Active Body Control (ABC) active suspension includes
a coil spring and electronically controlled hydraulic cylinder in series, plus a
gas pressurized shock absorber, at each wheel. A driver-selectable sport mode is
an available option
Independent five-link, active electrohydraulic with load-dependent spring rates,
gas-charged shocks, coil springs, level control
Steering
Rack-and-pinion, speed-sensitive hydraulic power assist and integrated hydraulic
damper
Turns, lock-to-lock
2.6
Turning circle
32.6 feet / 9.93 meters
Front wheels (in.)
8.5 x 18 ten-spoke light alloy
8.5 x 19 AMG five-spoke
Rear wheels (in.)
9.5 x 18 ten-spoke light alloy
9.5 x 19 AMG five-spoke
Front tires
255 / 40 ZR 18
255 / 35 ZR 19
Rear tires
285 / 35 ZR 18
285 / 30 ZR 19
Brakes
Hydraulic power assisted 4-wheel discs with ABS anti-lock; Brake Assist