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 through the V8 SL 400 and SL 500 to two AMG flagships: the naturally aspirated 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.

All models used 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmissions from the 722.9 family, with chassis, engine and transmission codes varying between the early and later cars introduced through the run to 2020.

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

Every model.

Seven model rows across 2012–2020 — from the V6 SL 350 to the twin-turbo V12 SL 65 AMG, each identified by its chassis, engine and transmission numbers.

ModelModel yearsChassisEngineTransmissionTotal
SL 3502012–2014231.457276.954722.9067,904
SL 4002014–2016231.465276.825722.9046,319
SL 4002017–2020231.465276.825722.904included above
SL 5002012–2015231.473278.927722.909included above
SL 5002016–2020231.473278.927722.909included above
SL 63 AMG2012–2014231.474157.983722.931included above
SL 65 AMG2012–2018231.479279.981722.932included above

* The published production figure covers every series of that model; the source does not break it down further.

722.9x 7G-Tronic 7-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. 2012
    • R231 launched (dealerships from 31 March): almost entirely aluminum body, retractable Vario hardtop, optional MAGIC SKY CONTROL panoramic roof.
    • Early range: SL 350 and SL 500 (SL 550 in North America), followed by SL 63 AMG (Geneva) and SL 65 AMG (New York).
    • Limited Edition 1 launch package offered with designo crystal silver magno and extensive equipment.
  2. 2014
    • SL 400 arrives with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, succeeding the naturally aspirated SL 350 in most markets.
    • SL 63 AMG raised to 585 PS / 900 N·m (Performance Package levels become the standard tune in many markets).
  3. 2016
    • Mid-cycle facelift for model year 2017 (shown late 2015 / early 2016): revised front end and Panamericana-inspired grille, adaptive LED headlights, 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. 2018
    • SL 65 AMG ends production. SL 63 AMG output adjusted in some markets (published figures around 571 PS).
  5. 2019
    • SL 63 AMG discontinued after soft demand in its final years.
  6. 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.

V8 and V12 power.

Two engine families are documented for the R231: the naturally aspirated M157 V8 and the twin-turbocharged M279 V12.

M157

V8
  • 157.983 5.5 L · 5,461 cc

    537 PS

    395 kW · 530 hp at 5,500 rpm

    800 N·m

    590 lb·ft at 2,000 rpm

M279

V12
  • 279.981 6.0 L · 5,980 cc

    630 PS

    463 kW · 621 hp at 4,800 rpm

    1000 N·m

    738 lb·ft at 2,300 rpm

M276

V6
  • 276.825 3.0 L · 2,996 cc

    333 PS

    245 kW · 328 hp at 5,250 rpm

    480 N·m

    354 lb·ft at 1,600 rpm

  • 276.954 3.5 L · 3,498 cc

    306 PS

    225 kW · 302 hp at 6,500 rpm

    370 N·m

    273 lb·ft at 3,500 rpm

M278

V8
  • 278.927 4.7 L · 4,663 cc

    435 PS

    320 kW · 429 hp at 5,250 rpm

    700 N·m

    516 lb·ft at 1,800 rpm

Original brochures.

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

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