Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500 2012 Review

Think before you diss the Merc driver. It's the well-heeled motorists in stratospherically-priced Mercedes sports cars that are paying out big bucks to ensure your safety.

Every time a car like the Mercedes-Benz SL finds a new buyer, proceeds of that purchase filter back to the car maker who donates to its safety program.

No better example is anti-lock brakes, retractable seatbelts, airbags and so on - all developed by companies like Mercedes who, because of the obscene price of development, first fitted them to ultra-expensive cars like the SL. Mercedes later offers - at no cost - its findings to other car companies.

SAFETY

The latest safety widgets from Mercedes are equally as fascinating and are part of the ingenious aluminium-wrapped package that wears the SL badge. For those who came in late, the SL is Merc's premium luxury sports coupe-convertible and has a nameplate that is almost as old as me.

It's now in its sixth iteration. Standard fare on the SL500 tested are things like Pre-safe (reckons you're going to have an accident and prepares for the worse); Attention Assist (wake up Sunshine, the road's moved); Active bonnet (protection in pedestrian accidents); and Neck-Pro (protects the neck in an accident).

But it isn't all about minimising damage in a prang. The clever SL has an automatic opening and closing boot - just point your foot beneath the rear bumper. The audio's bass sound comes from using the recesses in the aluminium body structure to deliver perfect reproduction.

The windscreen wipers have 160 nozzles to squirt water right at the wiper edge, without overspray that obscures driver vision. The glass roof folds tightly in the boot and still allows a generous 364 litres    of storage with the roof down and 504 litres when up. But the best news is the way it drives.

This is an entirely new model over the steel predecessor and feels remarkably agile, quick and very comfortable. Just not pretty.

VALUE

Is in the eye of the beholder, or something like that, as $380,000 for the 4.7-litre V8-engines SL500 is equivalent to a suburban-fringe house. But the technology is breathtaking. It comes up against more rivals now than a decade ago so has to fight hard.

Look at convertibles such as the Porsche 911 Carrera ($260,000); Maserati GranCabrio ($330,000); Jaguar XKR-S ($365,000); BMW 650i ($250,000); and Audi R8 ($380,000). Also, the SL 350 V6-engined version may cost about $80,000 less and may be a better buy.

DESIGN

The SL is a great piece of engineering. But its styling is at odds with its mechanical acumen and its target buyer. Styling is heavy-handed, especially it's commercial-vehicle grille that looks like an iron gate that does no favours to the SL's (mostly) esteemed ancestors. Particularly, it lacks the elegance expected by an audience that is dominated by women. T

he tail is too rounded and though it's hard to shape a big tail when there's layers of folded metal and glass roof to hide, there may be a better ways. But the cabin is excellent with kudos to the electric park brake that finally replaces the ancient, US-inspired foot-operated ironwork; the neat, twin-dial instrument panel; small-diameter steering wheel; and the softer hues of the perfectly-supportive and perforated leather seats, use of more personal storage space and yet a sense that the driving compartment is more user friendly than before.

TECHNOLOGY

Safety ranks as the highlight here though full marks to the all-aluminium body (well, about 95 per cent) that is up to 140kg lighter than the previous car. The 4.7-litre engine is a bi-turbo unit that punches a smooth delivery with a slightly-menacing exhaust growl and sends it all the rear wheels via a seven-speed auto with paddle shifts and three response modes.

The suspension can be changed from "comfort'' to "sport'' and the latter makes firmer adjustments to the steering feel. There is also the "magic sky'' translucent glass roof option. It's a good package that is more definitive than most rivals - but you kinda expect that at $350,000-odd.

SAFETY

The safety issue is huge, both as standard equipment and as options. No other car company offers as much. Even the aluminium body is stressed not just for handling, but made compliant to absorb crash damage. A five-star rating is expected and the six airbags become almost insignificant when you recognise that this car can automatically either move you out of an accident situation or afford all possible protection should a collision occur. No spare tyre though!

DRIVING

Okay, so I'm going to get shot down because I think the styling is a bit like a tank. But behind the wheel, this is a very well balanced machi ne. The engine is strong but cleverly less excitable than is possible with two eager turbochargers. That's because the SL's market is more about luxury sports driving. If you want to be frightened, buy the SLS. The engine delivery is as expected - smooth, fuss-free but with the ability to growl all the way to the redline.

The most impressive feature is the suspension. It is soft and yet supportive on its "comfort'' setting but remains supple even when switched to "sport''. At the same time, the steering - an electro-hydraulic system - becomes a tad firmer. Some people have raved about the steering and I'd admit it's good. Good for the SL's market, good for the blend of city parking and country highways. The roof is quick and very quiet to erect and collapse, but I'd suggest the "magic sky'' option that puts a tint through the glass is almost mandatory in Australia.

VERDICT

I really like this car and while it's a big step on its predecessor, it's not pretty or elegant or as visually appealing as its rivals. As for the engineering - no contest. This is a great piece of mechanical architecture.

MERCEDES-BENZ SL500
Price: est. $380,000
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km
Resale: n/a
Service interval: 15,000km or 12 months
Safety: six airbags, ABS, ESC, PRESAFE, drowsiness alert.
Crash rating: 5 stars
Engine: 320kW/700Nm 4.7-litre V8 bi-turbo petrol
Body: 2-door, 2 seats
Dimensions: 4612mm (L); 1877m (W); 1315mm (H); 2585mm (WB)
Weight: 1785kg
Transmission: 7-spd auto; rear-wheel drive
Economy: 9.1 l/100km; 98 RON; 212g/km CO2