The engine starts instantly, with a roar that quickly settles down to quiet idle. Don't look for temperamental behavior from this engine. Your meek maiden aunt could drive the SL500 around town. Although the SL500 doesn't have the Saturn V rocket thrust of the SL600, the 300-plus horses give you the trump card in virtually any automotive confrontation that doesn't involve a police radio. Mercedes reconfigured the exhaust for a throatier tone, though don't expect the rumble of a Z-28. The SL500 is subtler than that. Full throttle sounds better with the top down because the wonderful exhaust note comes through better without the fabric filter.The SL500 is powered by a 5.0-liter version of the new-generation 4.3-liter V8 used in the hot E430 and C43 models. Underneath the attractive plastic covers is a single overhead-cam engine that uses the Mercedes-Benz twin-spark, 3-valve-per-cylinder technology that reduces start-up emissions with no loss of horsepower compared to 4-valve designs. The single exhaust valve easily handles the post-combustion volume of exhaust. The two spark plugs can fire with a varied stagger-time difference between the two sparks -- depending on engine speed and load. As a result, the V8 produces a peak output of 302 horsepower at 5600 rpm and a torque plateau of 339 foot-pounds from 2700 rpm to 4250 rpm. Maximum torque is less than before, but it makes the SL500 more responsive across the board and, per manufacturer's tests, significantly reduces the 0-60 mph acceleration to 6.1 seconds. It's cleaner too, certified as a California Low Emissions Vehicle.
The standard 5-speed automatic transmission has a zigzag shifter pattern to allow it to be used easily as a semiautomatic. It's not necessary, however. Leaving the transmission in Drive gives buttery smooth shifts whether at part or full throttle.
The SL500 is a wide car and it filled the Pennsylvania back roads we used for our test. Steering is precise and the power assist provides enough feedback for the driver to feel the road. The SL500 is an open car and, despite its Mercedes-Benz origin, there is obvious cowl shake over rough roads -- though the chassis is anything but willowy.
A fully independent suspension uses a strut setup up front and a five-link design at the rear. It is abetted by the Mercedes-Benz Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which takes anti-lock braking and traction control one step farther. ESP, standard on the SL500 this year, momentarily applies the brake on one wheel whenever understeer or oversteer is detected by a central computer using various motion and wheel speed sensors. (Understeer is when the front tires begin to lose grip; oversteer is when the rear tires begin to lose grip.)
There's a lot of tire under the SL. Push it hard through a corner and you can feel this car working out. There's two tons of Mercedes-Benz to harness. Under normal circumstances it's almost impossible to break the tires loose from the pavement. When they do break loose, Electronic Stability Control is there to help maintain control. On the road, it's hard to get this into action without being terribly foolhardy, but Electronic Stability Control makes it possible to really power out of a corner without worrying about the rear end sliding out.
Brakes are massive four-wheel discs, almost a foot in diameter up front and only an inch smaller in back. They are backed up with the Mercedes-Benz Brake Assist system. Hit the brake pedal fast and Brake Assist presumes a panic stop and applies full braking force faster than most drivers, reducing stopping distances in emergency situations. Standard tires have been upgraded to 245/45ZR17 on 8.25x17-inch wheels.
The Sport Package, added last year, adds to the sporty look of the SL with a special aerodynamic front bumper designed by AMG, the famous race and tuner firm that's now a division of Mercedes-Benz. The bumper has projector beam fog lights in a deeper apron with a mesh air dam. To further sharpen handling, the Sport Package includes unique 18-inch wheels fitted with extremely low-profile tires -- 245/40ZR-18 front and 275/35ZR-18 rear. In addition to their performance benefits, they look really great. Mercedes-Benz notes that the entire $4,995 Sport Package is priced lower than aftermarket wheels and tires alone and that everything is covered by the factory warranty. Suspension and steering calibrations are unchanged by the Sport Package.
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