Mercedes-Benz SL Is a Technological Masterpiece

Built to last, Mercedes has several tricks to stay ahead of its roadster rivals. Check out this throwback.

It seems like each version of the Mercedes SL sticks around for a long time. Despite debuting way back in 1954, we’re only on the sixth distinct chassis change. That’s Porsche 911 levels of tenacity. So what does the SL do to stay ahead of its rivals for so long? British TV program Fifth Gear decided to take a closer look.

For starters, the previous model’s steel body was replaced with an aluminum one. That one change represents a difference of over 300 pounds. That creates huge benefits for acceleration, braking, handling, and fuel economy.

The SL has long been more about comfort and style than all-out performance, and that’s just fine with us. The seats are endlessly adjustable and feature a special heater bent in the headrest that keeps the back of your neck warm when you’re cruising with the top down on cool autumn days. Neat. Those same seats are capable of giving you a massage while you drive.

Mercedes touts the SL as the world’s safest convertible, and to that end, they have built in a ton of high-tech safety technology. While lots of cars have collision-avoidance technology, the Mercedes-Benz SL will monitor your level of alertness and will tell you when it thinks you’re getting tired. If all else fails, it primes the airbags and adjusts the headrests and seat belt tensioners to reduce injuries in an accident.

The optional Harmon-Kardon stereo manages to fit 14 speakers into the small two-seater cabin, while Magic Sky Control allows you to change the level of tint on the roof glass. That way you can make the cabin feel as big or as small as you wish.

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While all of this tech is nice, the SL is still all about old-school class. That’s why an analog clock is still an available option. Sometimes, it’s nice to just put the top down, forget all of your cares, and go for a cruise. There’s no better car for that than a Mercedes-Benz SL – and it’s going to stay that way for a long, long time.

Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.
He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.
In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.
You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.

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