It seems fair to say that the days of power plants with more cylinders than there are days in the week powering many of the TriStar firm’s nameplates are now but memories and 2023 AMG SL43 reinforces that idea. Ryan de Villiers got to grips with the potent four-pot model on the AMG Performance Tour at Kyalami.
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Cast your mind back to five years ago, and the local Mercedes SL range was characterized by its V6, V8 and V12 powertrains which afforded the German convertible enough grunt to match up with Porsche’s 911 Cabriolet and Aston Martin’s Vantage Roadster.
Related: Review: 2023 Mercedes-AMG A45 S 4MATIC+
Now the local range features just one derivative, the SL43, and the question arises, does all that it offers to warrant its nearly two and a half million rand asking price?
What’s new on the Mercedes-AMG SL43
Well, compared to the sixth-generational iteration of the SL nameplate, this seventh-generation model’s physique is softer and seemingly less contoured that the which came before. Most notably it features a new grille design characterized by its vertical slots and round AMG emblem flanked by sleeker headlights. The rear is characterized by slim taillights with slight contours and round exhausts characterizing the lower apron. It retains the classic dimensions of those before it with its short overhangs and long bonnet.
The interior is no far cry from what many of the firm’s modern offerings are kitted with. The four seats are wrapped in ARTICO man-made leather with fabric on the posterior cushions. To either side of the driver or passengers are dark leather with accent stitching. Down the middle of the cabin is a familiar centre close in portrait orientation which, like the A45 S, utilizes the latest variant of the MBUX infotainment system.
All in all the cabin is as spacious as the previous model, albeit with a greater sense of insolation by way of the sizable door panels and the overarching three-layer fabric soft top, which Mercedes claims can open and close in 15 seconds.
Below the metal, the car is motivated by the almost omnipresent M139 engine in a longitudinal configuration that feeds 280 kW and 480 N.m to its rear wheels. Additionally, the turbocharger that is positioned alongside the motor features a tiny electric motor, which affords it the ability to generate greater turbine acceleration which translates to better throttle response, a minimisation of turbo lag and, most importantly, more torque further down in the rev range.
Why is the Mercedes-AMG SL43 significant?
The SL43 represents a paradigm shift in Mercedes offerings. It is also the pioneer of electrified powerhouses in the SL nameplate and serves as a testament to the engine that is seemingly omnipresent in the modern Mercedes lineup. What’s even more noteworthy is the translation, or better yet, the redefining of the entry-level SL model’s performance and offerings. In its sixth-generation guise, the SL family’s entry-level model was the SL400 which was motivated by a 3,0-litre V6 that endowed the sultry convertible with an output of 270 kW delivered at 5 000 r/min accompanied by 500 N.m felt at 2 000 r/min allowing its to reach 0 to 100km/h in 4,9 seconds.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the new entry-level offering. The 2023 AMG SL43 is powered by a much smaller power plant, the 2,0-litre, which is almost identical in terms of power to its V6 predecessor, albeit delivering its peak outputs of 280 kW/480 N.m much later in the rev range. Aside from on-paper performance and figures, the most notable change in the latest entry-level overall package is its price, which has inflated by R1 million compared to the previous generation’s lowest-lying model.
Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG SL43
It must be said that the sampling of the latest SL43 took place on the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit, and as is with many track experiences, the SL43 was coaxed to its limits. Demand for power and performance is met rapidly. Although its figures have not been bolstered as much as its price tag, the SL43 is deceptively fast. That turbocharger with its tiny assistant affords the SL43 a commendable power build-up and enough athleticism to be thoroughly enjoyed on track.
Despite rear-wheel drive and a frame that is a little over 100 kg shy of two tonnes, the SL43 is nimble and obedient. Its nine-speed multi-clutch transmission responded well to demanding upshifts and downshifts, which translated to a hearty response by way of the exhausts. Although our sampling of the 2023 AMG SL43 was at break-neck speeds along winding tarmac, there’s an undeniable prestige in its ability to control its weight and to avail itself as a tamable open-top cruiser.
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Verdict
Its pedigree is undeniable, and although it’s not worlds apart from those who came before it, it still upholds the values of its founding members. However, it has lost some of its character by adopting the M139L and abandoning the aforementioned V6 yet its performance is infallible.
Although…
It hurts to see its price tag, and its justification is lessened by the offerings of its competitors like the 911 cabriolet, which offers roughly the same level of on-sheet performance at a slightly lower price.
Mercedes-AMG SL43 Fast Facts
Engine: 2,0-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder
Power: 280 kW @ 6 750 r/min
Torque: 480 N.m @ 5 000 r/min
Transmission: AMG Speedshift MCT 9G
0-100km/h: 4,9 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 275 km/h (governed)
Driven wheels: rear wheels
Price: R2 466 046
Competitors: Porsche 911 Cabriolet, BMW 8 Series Convertible, Lexus LC Convertible
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