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| Mercedes-Benz | Porsche | Motorcycles & Miscellanea | How Things Work (DIY) Section |
The R230 SL
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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 then bought an SL55.
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Vee-Eight Technical Data
Vee Twelve specs are located further below
| SL550 | SL500 | SL55 | |
| Vehicle type | Roadster | ||
| Engine | 90-degree V8 |
Supercharged 90-degree V8 |
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| 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 | AMG modified, Speedshift controlled five-speed driver-adaptive automatic with steering wheel controls | |
| Gear ratios | |||
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1
2 3 4 5 6 7 R R2 "comfort" mode |
4.38:1
2.86:1 1.92:1 1.37:1 1.00:1 0.82:1 0.73:1 3.42:1 2.23:1 |
3.59:1
2.19:1 1.41:1 1.00:1 0.83:1 - - 3.17:1 1.93:1 |
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| 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. 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 |
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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 | AMG modified, Speedshift controlled five-speed driver-adaptive automatic with steering wheel controls |
| Gear ratios | ||
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1
2 3 4 5 R R2 "comfort" mode |
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 |
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| 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 | |
| Front calipers | six-piston fixed | |
| Rear calipers | four-piston fixed | |
| Front disc type | vented | |
| Rear disc type | vented | |
| Front disc diameter (in./mm) | 14.2 / 360 | |
| Front disc thickness (in./mm) | 1.4 / 36 | |
| Rear disc diameter (in./mm) | 13.0 / 330 | |
| Rear disc thickness (in./mm) | 1.02 / 10 | |
| Exterior dimensions (in./mm) | ||
| Wheelbase | 100.8 / 2,560 | |
| Length | 178.5 / 4,535 | |
| Width (including mirrors) | 80.0 / 2,032 | |
| Front track | 61.4 / 1,559 | |
| Rear track | 60.5 / 1,537 | |
| Height | 51.0 / 1,295 | |
| Curb weight | 4,429 / 2,008 | 4,555 / 2,066 |
| 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) | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Top Speed MPH | 155 - electronically limited | |
| Fuel economy (city/hwy) | 11 / 18 | |
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© 2005 Marcus Blair Fitzhugh
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