2003 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class in Burbank

The SL suffix always has been a bit optimistic, even when applied to the original Mercedes-Benz SL roadster of 1957. Although the car was definitely sporty, it wasn't exactly light, tipping the scales at a relatively well-fed 2926 pounds. With each successive generation, Stuttgart's SL has turned into a Serious Leviathan. The latest and--literally--greatest iteration is the line's new flagship, the SL55 AMG. It weighs a sumoesque 4311 pounds--143 more than the already hefty SL500. Mercedes and its in-house tuner AMG have more than compensated for this portliness, however, with a sensational V-8 engine that answers all questions and quashes all doubts. Wedging a belt-driven, screw-type supercharger between the cylinder banks of AMG's all-aluminum, SOHC 5.5-liter V-8 adds 167 horses to the SL corral, for a total of 469. The result is a true thoroughbred, a serious rival for the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, and the Ferrari 360 Modena.

Visually, the AMG version of the fifth-generation SL is no improvement over the SL500. The various spoilers, the chiseled rocker covers, and the F1-inspired nose seem to neutralize the SL's stealthy appeal. The cockpit is swathed in soft leather and even softer suede, and it's nicely decorated with brushed aluminum accents. We aren't fond of the gauges, however, which are difficult to read.

The SL55 AMG is the first Mercedes-Benz model to be fitted with a push-button manu-matic transmission, and it shows.... Read full article