Limited Production SL600 Takes on 911 GT3 RS
I’ll break the tension by revealing that the SL600 lost to the brand new Porsche 911 GT3 RS. As you can see in the video below, the race was from a dig, and the Porsche’s far-more advanced dual-clutch transmission has world-leading launch control and ultra-fast shifts, not to mention the underrated-at-500-horsepower 4-liter flat six, wide sticky tires, and a nearly 700-pound weight advantage.
Had the race been from a roll, the Merc would have put up a much bigger fight, considering the big biturbo V12 has been tuned to produce more boost, and it seemed that it was catching the Porsche there as the race wound out. Either way, the Benz is surely the one to have out on the road, and the fact that it kept up with Porsche’s all-out racer for the street is a testament to the decade-aged Grand Touring car’s prowess.
The SL in this video left the factory with about as much power as the Porsche did, but with a little tuning, it’s likely picked up a hundred horsepower or so. The extra weight of the luxury cruiser and the high boost threshold is the killer here, as the lightweight Porsche zooms past in the mid-range. There’s some advantage for the Merc at the top end, as it doesn’t have the drag-inducing wing on the back like the Porsche does, and it can still build power as the boost continues to feed in. I don’t think the owner of the SL600 thought he would win this race, he was probably just out having fun, but a half-mile roll race from about 60 might have seen him coming out on top.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
