SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Restricted Cars Slower to 100mph?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Restricted Cars Slower to 100mph?
Autocar didn't publish my letter telling them I thought their review of the SL55 was garbage, no surprise there.
At the time, I did express surprise at the 0-100 time of 11.2 seconds. This week, they're claiming that the 155mph/250kph limit restricts performance even below that limit and that removing both lifts the top speed and improves the 0-100mph time.
They're saying the SL55s they've tested are restricted and are slower ("disappointing") compared to the car auto motor und sport tested. They also say that MB engineers say that removing the speed limit allows them to deploy more torque at lower speeds. Sounds like BS to me but perhaps one of you guys would like to comment, especially if you have had the limiter removed.
Richard, what do you think?
Next week, they are doing comparative 0-100-0 times for a bunch of cars, inclluding the SL55 but it looks like this will include the 11.2 second car, so we should not be expecting miracles. However, for a car to do 0-62 in 4.7 seconds, 11.2 does sound a long time to get to 100. If you do the math, it's only 40% as accelerative from 62 - 100 as from 0 to 62. For a car which does 200mph?
Maybe the engines need to loosen up.
At the time, I did express surprise at the 0-100 time of 11.2 seconds. This week, they're claiming that the 155mph/250kph limit restricts performance even below that limit and that removing both lifts the top speed and improves the 0-100mph time.
They're saying the SL55s they've tested are restricted and are slower ("disappointing") compared to the car auto motor und sport tested. They also say that MB engineers say that removing the speed limit allows them to deploy more torque at lower speeds. Sounds like BS to me but perhaps one of you guys would like to comment, especially if you have had the limiter removed.
Richard, what do you think?
Next week, they are doing comparative 0-100-0 times for a bunch of cars, inclluding the SL55 but it looks like this will include the 11.2 second car, so we should not be expecting miracles. However, for a car to do 0-62 in 4.7 seconds, 11.2 does sound a long time to get to 100. If you do the math, it's only 40% as accelerative from 62 - 100 as from 0 to 62. For a car which does 200mph?
Maybe the engines need to loosen up.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 999
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From: UG
2013 ML63 AMG PP
yup, garbage review. BS explanation from Autocar
I assume you are talking about Autocars recent Drive report on the SL55 which was wasteful. They had 4.8 sec time of 0-60mph! ( yeah right) It even states 4.7sec 0-100km (0-62mph) in the brochure!!! and Mercedes is always conservative.
I saw the 11.2 time of 0-100 but something was off. Maybe they did that test right after running the car hard a couple of times around the track. The engine and supercharger would be quite hot and would add a second or two onto the numbers. You've also got other factors like the track temp at the time of test and humidity level. I assume that they used super premium fuel and correctly adjusted tire pressures. All these factors can add or subtract a second or two.
The limiter for 155 doesn't limit the accelartion performance unless you hit the limiter
Motortrend, who actually tested the vehicle, got the 1/4 mile in 12.55sec at 116.1mph
The limiter are only designed to ease off the power as you approach the set limit.
I saw the 11.2 time of 0-100 but something was off. Maybe they did that test right after running the car hard a couple of times around the track. The engine and supercharger would be quite hot and would add a second or two onto the numbers. You've also got other factors like the track temp at the time of test and humidity level. I assume that they used super premium fuel and correctly adjusted tire pressures. All these factors can add or subtract a second or two.
The limiter for 155 doesn't limit the accelartion performance unless you hit the limiter
Motortrend, who actually tested the vehicle, got the 1/4 mile in 12.55sec at 116.1mph
The limiter are only designed to ease off the power as you approach the set limit.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 641
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From: Deerfield Beach, FL
2006 MB C230 SS 6spd, Navi
Re: Restricted Cars Slower to 100mph?
Originally posted by blueSL
Autocar didn't publish my letter telling them I thought their review of the SL55 was garbage, no surprise there.
At the time, I did express surprise at the 0-100 time of 11.2 seconds. This week, they're claiming that the 155mph/250kph limit restricts performance even below that limit and that removing both lifts the top speed and improves the 0-100mph time.
They're saying the SL55s they've tested are restricted and are slower ("disappointing") compared to the car auto motor und sport tested. They also say that MB engineers say that removing the speed limit allows them to deploy more torque at lower speeds. Sounds like BS to me but perhaps one of you guys would like to comment, especially if you have had the limiter removed.
Richard, what do you think?
Next week, they are doing comparative 0-100-0 times for a bunch of cars, inclluding the SL55 but it looks like this will include the 11.2 second car, so we should not be expecting miracles. However, for a car to do 0-62 in 4.7 seconds, 11.2 does sound a long time to get to 100. If you do the math, it's only 40% as accelerative from 62 - 100 as from 0 to 62. For a car which does 200mph?
Maybe the engines need to loosen up.
Autocar didn't publish my letter telling them I thought their review of the SL55 was garbage, no surprise there.
At the time, I did express surprise at the 0-100 time of 11.2 seconds. This week, they're claiming that the 155mph/250kph limit restricts performance even below that limit and that removing both lifts the top speed and improves the 0-100mph time.
They're saying the SL55s they've tested are restricted and are slower ("disappointing") compared to the car auto motor und sport tested. They also say that MB engineers say that removing the speed limit allows them to deploy more torque at lower speeds. Sounds like BS to me but perhaps one of you guys would like to comment, especially if you have had the limiter removed.
Richard, what do you think?
Next week, they are doing comparative 0-100-0 times for a bunch of cars, inclluding the SL55 but it looks like this will include the 11.2 second car, so we should not be expecting miracles. However, for a car to do 0-62 in 4.7 seconds, 11.2 does sound a long time to get to 100. If you do the math, it's only 40% as accelerative from 62 - 100 as from 0 to 62. For a car which does 200mph?
Maybe the engines need to loosen up.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
You're certainly correct that a car at 100 has 2.78 times the energy of one at 60 but in a 0 - 100 run, the bulk of the power from the engine goes in giving the car kinetic energy compared to slicing through the air.
Maybe the car's weight is counting against it but a number of 11.2 suggests the car will be outrun by the 575, Murcielago and 996T to 100mph, which seems to contradict the experiences of people who have driven the car, such as Lonman in the Gumball rally.
Maybe the car's weight is counting against it but a number of 11.2 suggests the car will be outrun by the 575, Murcielago and 996T to 100mph, which seems to contradict the experiences of people who have driven the car, such as Lonman in the Gumball rally.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Brunei
Too Young To Drive
In fact, most of the energy from the torquey engine is used to get the 4,400 lbs of aluminium, but mostly steel moving at those low speeds. Only at speeds in excess of 150mph do aerodynamics start to affect the car more.
I've also seen the SL get from 0-60 in 4.32 seconds by Motortrend in their video review of the first SL to hit the USA.
I've also seen the SL get from 0-60 in 4.32 seconds by Motortrend in their video review of the first SL to hit the USA.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Berkshire, UK
2004 SL55, 2015 A250d, 2016 GLC250d
Originally posted by dNA3D
In fact, most of the energy from the torquey engine is used to get the 4,400 lbs of aluminium, but mostly steel moving at those low speeds. Only at speeds in excess of 150mph do aerodynamics start to affect the car more.
I've also seen the SL get from 0-60 in 4.32 seconds by Motortrend in their video review of the first SL to hit the USA.
In fact, most of the energy from the torquey engine is used to get the 4,400 lbs of aluminium, but mostly steel moving at those low speeds. Only at speeds in excess of 150mph do aerodynamics start to affect the car more.
I've also seen the SL get from 0-60 in 4.32 seconds by Motortrend in their video review of the first SL to hit the USA.
I await the group 0->100->0 tests :-)
Cheers
R
