Objectively speaking, the Mercedes-AMG SL43 is an excellent grand tourer, but there’s something inherently wrong with a four-cylinder SL. As one of Merc’s halo models, the SL deserved more. In 43 guise, it also lacks character, which should be added to the list of cardinal sins. If you’re lucky enough to own an R230 SL55 AMG, you won’t find this model appealing at all.
One of the best things you can do in an SL is to drop the top and listen to the muscular soundtrack, which the SL55 and SL63 still provide. But the V8 models are roughly $50,000 more than the base car, leaving room for another model. An inline-six is perfect for the SL. Generations one to four all had an inline-six option, while the fifth and sixth went the V6 route.
Either way, there is historical context, and we’d much rather listen to an inline-six than a turbocharged four-pot.
Likelihood of it happening:
As much as we’d like to see an inline-six homage to earlier SL models, we don’t see it happening. The three SLs currently on sale already target different audiences. The SL43 is for posers, the SL55 is the best all-rounder, and the 63 is for people who want the most.
