RE: Mercedes updates SL55 AMG

RE: Mercedes updates SL55 AMG

Wednesday 15th February 2006

Mercedes updates SL55 AMG

Styling tweaked plus power hike to 517bhp


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Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Mercedes has updated the SL55 AMG, including more power, better dynamics and some styling tweaks. Blink and you'll miss the changes though.

The improved AMG 5.5-litre V8 supercharged engine now comes with a new, higher-speed supercharger compressor and a larger throttle valve to optimise air supply. These modifications plus the installation of an even more efficient engine management unit have boosted the output of the AMG V8 powerplant from 500bhp to 517bhp, while peak torque rises from 516lb-ft to 531lb-ft. The electronic engine management now features cylinder-selective pilot control of the firing angle: this function sets the optimum combustion point individually for each cylinder, resulting in a further improvement in the efficiency of the AMG V8 engine. The new SL 55 AMG accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds -- outgoing model: 4.7 seconds -- and goes on to reach an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

It includes a re-engineered AMG sports suspension based on second-generation Active Body Control, which gives faster response road conditions, more direct steering as a result of a faster steering assistance pump and damper, and new AMG high-performance brakes using 360mm discs (front) and 330mm discs (rear).

The new-look body features a more pronounced wedge shaped front apron, and fog lamps ringed in chrome. There's now an AMG-specific radiator grille with three black louvres and chrome highlights, new tail lights as well as a third brake light with AMG tinting. There are new high-sheen AMG 18-inch light-alloy multi-spoke wheels, while a tyre pressure loss warning system is now standard.

Interior highlights includes a new AMG steering-wheel shift paddles and an AMG main menu with a Racetimer feature, which allows you to record lap times, storing fastest lap times, average and top speeds and lap length. There's also a bundle of other interior tweaks -- lettering, chrome bits and more leather inside.

Author
Discussion

GTRene

Original Poster:

17,784 posts

231 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
For such a big car they look awesome and raw...and the newer looks are even better, but still I would not buy(if I could) such heavy car...but when I would at some age? such cars like this AMG are wonderfull reliable fast cars...
GTRene

speedy_thrills

7,775 posts

250 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
GTRene said:
AMG are wonderfull reliable fast cars...
I don’t think this is true statistically speaking is it? Have Mercedes started to make significant gains in reliability?

Lovely car though in all respects .

GTRene

Original Poster:

17,784 posts

231 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
speedy_thrills said:
GTRene said:
AMG are wonderfull reliable fast cars...
I don’t think this is true statistically speaking is it? Have Mercedes started to make significant gains in reliability?

Lovely car though in all respects .

not when you have seen that video of automatic braking? or what was that in the mist thing, with more and more elektronics its difficult to get more reliabillity, but I'm more talking about a fast merc enige and thats "reliable"

r988

7,495 posts

236 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
Actually since around 2000 the SL has been constantly rated one of the least reliable new cars around, in those various survey things, Mercedes ML also does very poorly.

Might as well get a TVR, save some money

Swoll

19,167 posts

265 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
Lovely car, but for £90K there are a lot of cars i would test drive before it.

tomtvr

6,909 posts

248 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
That should be good for 200mph derestricted now, thats if it wasnt before.

Marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
tomtvr said:
That should be good for 200mph derestricted now, thats if it wasnt before.


I think it was Autocar that squeezed 202 out of a deristricted one when they first came out

YamR1,V64motion

5,725 posts

231 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all




i thought the SL 55 was 367 bhp before, same as the CLK 55? must be going mad.

HCT

87 posts

228 months

Wednesday 15th February 2006
quotequote all
Only C55, CLK 55 and SLK 55 got naturally aspirated engines, E55, S55, SL55, CL55 and CLS55 are equipped with a supercharger. Thumb rule: Everything thats is not cheap is available with a naturally aspirated AMG engine. Everything worth more than the average familycrip got a f/i AMG engine.

YamR1,V64motion

5,725 posts

231 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
HCT said:
Only C55, CLK 55 and SLK 55 got naturally aspirated engines, E55, S55, SL55, CL55 and CLS55 are equipped with a supercharger. Thumb rule: Everything thats is not cheap is available with a naturally aspirated AMG engine. Everything worth more than the average familycrip got a f/i AMG engine.




ah ok, thanks for clearing that up for me, it also just makes me want an SL55 though, and i cant afford one

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
I like all top-spec Mercs (and haven't had any reliability issues) but particularly the bold look of the CLS 55 - as with all new Mercs, they depreciate so fast that a fully-loaded 2-year old model is almost half the cost of a new one so is the time to buy (unless it's being given to you - eg: company car!)!

Marki

15,763 posts

277 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
The CLS 55 IMO the best looking 4 door car on the road

granville

18,764 posts

268 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
Utterly superb.

Teenage boys will dismiss it for reasons of relative ubiquity but over time, the allure of this automotive powder keg gains an almost inevitable significance.

Because on the grotty roads and under the abysmal sufferance of myriad motorised plebia that is Britain today, the concept of uber cacoon registers a compelling resonance.

Other than familial practicality, when I seriously ponder the galaxy of feasible options for ultimate commuting, a second hand one of these for under £60 - probably £50k before long - seems like extreme value.

It ticks almost every box.

225

1,331 posts

233 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
Sound good as well!

Marlon

735 posts

265 months

Thursday 16th February 2006
quotequote all
derestrictor said:
Utterly superb.

Teenage boys will dismiss it for reasons of relative ubiquity but over time, the allure of this automotive powder keg gains an almost inevitable significance.

Because on the grotty roads and under the abysmal sufferance of myriad motorised plebia that is Britain today, the concept of uber cacoon registers a compelling resonance.

Other than familial practicality, when I seriously ponder the galaxy of feasible options for ultimate commuting, a second hand one of these for under £60 - probably £50k before long - seems like extreme value.

It ticks almost every box.

Couldn't have said it better myself

markbe

1,755 posts

233 months

Friday 17th February 2006
quotequote all
Marki said:
tomtvr said:
That should be good for 200mph derestricted now, thats if it wasnt before.


I think it was Autocar that squeezed 202 out of a deristricted one when they first came out


Marki, the SL55 'Autocar 2nd Jan 2002' used,for the 202mph run at Nardo, was angthing,but 469 bhp it was supposed to be.

They got 124 to 186mph,=18.8 sec.!!

SLR, 124 to 186mph,=20.0 sec.!!!

Regards Mark.

ps, I'd guess 650 bhp..

>> Edited by markbe on Friday 17th February 08:10