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Mercedes-Benz SL: generations and engines

The Mercedes-Benz SL has been built since 1954 in 13 generations, with 71 engine versions in our catalog (coupe, roadster). Pick a generation to see its engines, horsepower and fuel economy.

Mercedes-Benz SL Enlarge
Production years1954–present
Generations13
Engine versions71
Power105–670 hp
Body stylesCoupe, Roadster
FuelGasoline
Timeline

Mercedes-Benz SL generations

  1. 1954–1957

    Mercedes-Benz SL Coupe (W198)

    • Coupe
    • Gasoline

    1 engine version 215 hp

    Engines below
  2. 1955–1963

    Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster (W121)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    1 engine version 105 hp

    Engines below
  3. 1957–1963

    Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster (W198 II)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    1 engine version 215 hp

    Engines below
  4. 1963–1971

    Mercedes-Benz SL (W113)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    9 engine versions 150–170 hp

    Generation specs
  5. 1989–1995

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R129)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    12 engine versions 190–394 hp

    Generation specs
  6. 1995–1998

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R129, facelift 1995)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    8 engine versions 193–394 hp

    Engines below
  7. 1998–2001

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R129, facelift 1998)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    7 engine versions 204–525 hp

    Generation specs
  8. 2001–2006

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R230)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    6 engine versions 245–612 hp

    Generation specs
  9. 2006–2008

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R230, facelift 2006)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    5 engine versions 272–612 hp

    Engines below
  10. 2008–2011

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R230, facelift 2008)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    7 engine versions 231–612 hp

    Engines below
  11. 2008–2009

    Mercedes-Benz SL Coupe (R230, facelift 2008)

    • Coupe
    • Gasoline

    1 engine version 670 hp

    Engines below
  12. 2012–2015

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R231)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    6 engine versions 306–630 hp

    Engines below
  13. 2016–present

    Mercedes-Benz SL (R231, facelift 2016)

    • Roadster
    • Gasoline

    7 engine versions 367–630 hp

    Generation specs
Specs

Mercedes-Benz SL engines

The manufacturer's figures for each engine version: horsepower, torque, 0–62 mph, top speed and combined fuel economy.

Mercedes-Benz SL Coupe (W198)1954–1957 · 1 engine version
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
300 SL (215 hp)1954–1957Gasoline215 hp (158 kW)203 lb-ft (275 Nm)10 s162 mph (260 km/h)
Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster (W121)1955–1963 · 1 engine version
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
190 SL (105 hp)1955–1963Gasoline105 hp (77 kW)105 lb-ft (142 Nm)107 mph (173 km/h)
Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster (W198 II)1957–1963 · 1 engine version
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
300 SL (215 hp)1957–1963Gasoline215 hp (158 kW)203 lb-ft (275 Nm)10 s155 mph (250 km/h)
Mercedes-Benz SL (R129, facelift 1995)1995–1998 · 8 engine versions
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
SL 280 (193 hp)1995–1998Gasoline193 hp (142 kW)199 lb-ft (270 Nm)10.2 s143 mph (230 km/h)
SL 280 (193 hp) 4 Automatic1995–1998Gasoline193 hp (142 kW)199 lb-ft (270 Nm)9.9 s140 mph (225 km/h)
SL 280 (193 hp) 5 Automatic1995–1996Gasoline193 hp (142 kW)199 lb-ft (270 Nm)9.9 s140 mph (225 km/h)
SL 320 (231 hp) Automatic1995–1998Gasoline231 hp (170 kW)232 lb-ft (315 Nm)8.4 s149 mph (240 km/h)
SL 500 V8 (320 hp) Automatic1995–1998Gasoline320 hp (235 kW)347 lb-ft (470 Nm)6.5 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 600 V12 (394 hp) Automatic1995–1998Gasoline394 hp (290 kW)420 lb-ft (570 Nm)6.1 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
AMG SL 60 V8 (381 hp) Automatic1996–1998Gasoline381 hp (280 kW)428 lb-ft (580 Nm)5.8 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 280 (193 hp) 5 Automatic1996–1998Gasoline193 hp (142 kW)199 lb-ft (270 Nm)9.9 s140 mph (225 km/h)
Mercedes-Benz SL (R230, facelift 2006)2006–2008 · 5 engine versions
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
AMG SL 55 V8 (517 hp) Automatic2006–2008Gasoline517 hp (380 kW)531 lb-ft (720 Nm)4.5 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
AMG SL 65 V12 (612 hp) Automatic2006–2008Gasoline612 hp (450 kW)738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm)4.2 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 350 V6 (272 hp) 7G-TRONIC2006–2008Gasoline272 hp (200 kW)258 lb-ft (350 Nm)6.6 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 500 V8 (388 hp) 7G-TRONIC2006–2008Gasoline388 hp (285 kW)391 lb-ft (530 Nm)5.4 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 600 V12 (517 hp) Automatic2006–2008Gasoline517 hp (380 kW)612 lb-ft (830 Nm)4.5 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
Mercedes-Benz SL (R230, facelift 2008)2008–2011 · 7 engine versions
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
AMG SL 63 V8 (525 hp) SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7G-TRONIC2008–2011Gasoline525 hp (386 kW)465 lb-ft (630 Nm)4.6 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
AMG SL 65 V12 (612 hp) Automatic2008–2010Gasoline612 hp (450 kW)738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm)4.2 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 280 V6 (231 hp) 7G-TRONIC2008–2011Gasoline231 hp (170 kW)221 lb-ft (300 Nm)7.8 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 350 V6 (316 hp) 7G-TRONIC2008–2011Gasoline316 hp (232 kW)266 lb-ft (360 Nm)6.2 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 500 V8 (388 hp) Automatic2008–2011Gasoline388 hp (285 kW)391 lb-ft (530 Nm)5.4 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 600 V12 (517 hp) Automatic2008–2011Gasoline517 hp (380 kW)612 lb-ft (830 Nm)4.5 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
SL 300 V6 (231 hp) 7G-TRONIC2009–2011Gasoline231 hp (170 kW)221 lb-ft (300 Nm)7.8 s155 mph (250 km/h, Electronically limited)
Mercedes-Benz SL Coupe (R230, facelift 2008)2008–2009 · 1 engine version
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
AMG SL 65 Black Series V12 (670 hp) SPEEDSHIFT2008–2009Gasoline670 hp (493 kW)738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm)3.9 s199 mph (320 km/h, Electronically limited)
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231)2012–2015 · 6 engine versions
EngineYearsFuelPowerTorque0–62 mphTop speedCombined
AMG SL 63 (537 hp) SPEEDSHIFT2012–2015Gasoline537 hp (395 kW)590 lb-ft (800 Nm)4.3 s155 mph (250 km/h)
AMG SL 65 (630 hp) SPEEDSHIFT2012–2015Gasoline630 hp (463 kW)738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm)4 s155 mph (250 km/h)
SL 350 (306 hp) G-TRONIC2012–2015Gasoline306 hp (225 kW)273 lb-ft (370 Nm)5.9 s155 mph (250 km/h)
SL 500 (435 hp) G-TRONIC2012–2015Gasoline435 hp (320 kW)516 lb-ft (700 Nm)4.6 s155 mph (250 km/h)
AMG SL 63 (585 hp) MCT2014–2015Gasoline585 hp (430 kW)664 lb-ft (900 Nm)4.2 s155 mph (250 km/h)
SL 400 (333 hp) G-TRONIC2014–2015Gasoline333 hp (245 kW)354 lb-ft (480 Nm)5.2 s155 mph (250 km/h)
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