Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster · 6th generation SL

R231

All-aluminum body, Magic Sky Control roof.

Production
2012–2020
Body
2-door roadster
Top power
630 PS
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Roadster (R231)

Launched in 2012, the R231 rebuilt the SL around a fully aluminum body-in-white, cutting weight while keeping the folding metal roof — available for the first time with Magic Sky Control, an electrochromic glass panel that could switch from clear to tinted at the press of a button.

The range ran from the V6 SL 350 and SL 400 through the V8 SL 500 to two AMG flagships: the twin-turbocharged M157 V8 in the SL 63 AMG and the twin-turbocharged M279 V12 in the SL 65 AMG, the latter producing 630 PS and 1,000 N·m of torque.

The early cars used seven-speed 722.9-family transmissions. For the 2016 facelift, the non-AMG SL 400/450 and SL 500/550 moved to nine-speed 725.0-family 9G-Tronic units, while the AMG models retained their seven-speed transmissions.

R231 interior
The R231 cabin, centered on a COMAND infotainment display and a driver-focused center console.

Every model.

Five Public Archive-backed pre-facelift types plus six market-specific facelift rows cover the complete 2012–2020 generation.

MalliMallivuodetValmistettuAlustaMoottoriVaihteistoYhteensä
SL 3502012–201501.2012–12.2015231.457276.954722.9067,904
SL 4002015–201606.2014–03.2016231.465276.825722.9046,319
SL 5002012–201601.2012–03.2016231.473278.927722.909sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 63 AMG2013–201602.2012–03.2016231.474157.983722.931sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 65 AMG2013–201606.2012–03.2016231.479279.981722.932sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 4002016–20202016–04.2020231.466276.825725.011sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 4502017–20202016–04.2020231.466276.825725.011sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 5002016–20202016–04.2020231.473278.927725.001sisältyy yllä olevaan
SL 5502017–20202016–04.2020231.473278.927725.001sisältyy yllä olevaan
Mercedes-AMG SL 632017–20192016–05.2019231.474157.983722.931sisältyy yllä olevaan
Mercedes-AMG SL 652017–20182016–07.2018231.479279.981722.932sisältyy yllä olevaan

* Julkaistu tuotantoluku kattaa kyseisen mallin kaikki sarjat; lähde ei erittele sitä tarkemmin.

722.9x 7-speed automatic / AMG multi-clutch transmission family725.0x 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic
R231 side profile
The all-aluminum R231 body cut weight while retaining the folding metal roof.

Year by year.

From the all-aluminum launch to the 2016 facelift — the milestones that define early and late R231 cars.

  1. 2013
    • The R231 reached the US for model year 2013 with an almost entirely aluminum body, retractable Vario hardtop and optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic roof.
    • The US range comprised SL 550, SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG; other markets also received SL 350 and SL 500 versions.
    • Limited Edition 1 launch package offered with designo crystal silver magno and extensive equipment.
  2. 2015
    • SL 400 arrived in the US with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, creating a new entry model; it succeeded the naturally aspirated SL 350 in many other markets.
    • SL 63 AMG raised to 585 PS / 900 N·m (Performance Package levels become the standard tune in many markets).
  3. 2017
    • The model-year 2017 facelift brought a revised front end and diamond-block grille, adaptive LED headlamps, redesigned bumpers and single-color LED tail lamps.
    • 9G-Tronic PLUS nine-speed automatic for non-AMG V6/V8 models; SL 500 output rises to 455 PS. US SL 400 becomes SL 450 with 367 PS.
    • Optional Active Body Control gains Curve Tilting; Vario roof can finish a cycle begun at speeds up to 40 km/h, with an automatically deployed luggage partition.
  4. 2019
    • After the SL 65 ended with model year 2018, the SL 63 completed its final US model year in 2019, leaving the SL 450 and SL 550 to finish the run.
  5. 2020
    • R231 production ends; the AMG-developed R232 succeeds it for the 2022 model year.
R231 rear three-quarter view
Quad exhausts and a wide rear track distinguish the V12-powered SL 65 AMG.

V6, V8 and V12 power.

Four engine families powered the R231: naturally aspirated and twin-turbocharged M276 V6s, M278 and M157 twin-turbo V8s, and the M279 twin-turbo V12.

M157

V8
  • 157.983 5.5 L · 5,461 cc

    537 PS

    395 kW · 530 hv / 5,500 r/min

    800 N·m

    590 lb·ft / 2,000 r/min

  • 157.983 5.5 L · 5,461 cc

    585 PS

    430 kW · 577 hv / 5,500 r/min

    900 N·m

    664 lb·ft / 2,250 r/min

M279

V12
  • 279.981 6.0 L · 5,980 cc

    630 PS

    463 kW · 621 hv / 4,800 r/min

    1000 N·m

    738 lb·ft / 2,300 r/min

M276

V6
  • 276.825 3.0 L · 2,996 cc

    333 PS

    245 kW · 328 hv / 5,250 r/min

    480 N·m

    354 lb·ft / 1,600 r/min

  • 276.825 3.0 L · 2,996 cc

    367 PS

    270 kW · 362 hv / 5,500 r/min

    500 N·m

    369 lb·ft / 2,000 r/min

  • 276.954 3.5 L · 3,498 cc

    306 PS

    225 kW · 302 hv / 6,500 r/min

    370 N·m

    273 lb·ft / 3,500 r/min

M278

V8
  • 278.927 4.7 L · 4,663 cc

    435 PS

    320 kW · 429 hv / 5,250 r/min

    700 N·m

    516 lb·ft / 1,800 r/min

  • 278.927 4.7 L · 4,663 cc

    455 PS

    335 kW · 449 hv / 5,250 r/min

    700 N·m

    516 lb·ft / 1,800 r/min

Original brochures.

Factory sales literature for the R231, exactly as it left the dealership — free to download as PDF.

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