Mercedes-AMG Brings Entry-Trim SL 43 to America

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Let’s be clear: this so-called ‘entry’ model of the tremendous SL roadster still costs six figures and has just 14 fewer horsepower than the vaunted R129-era V12 convertible – despite having precisely one-third the number of cylinders.

Set to be called the SL 43, this open-top 2+2-seater features a 2.0L turbocharged engine breathed upon by AMG and featuring an electric exhaust gas turbocharger. What’s that, you say? Glad you asked. Merc claims this technology is a “direct derivative” of developments used by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, a fact which can be used whilst bragging about your new car to buddies at the beach house in Malibu. 

Said to provide quick throttle response across the rpm range, the turbo is operated via the car’s 48-volt electrical system, a piece of kit which also feeds the belt-driven starter-generator. Electronically controlled, this drives the shaft of the turbocharger directly to accelerate the compressor wheel before the exhaust gas flow takes over the drive it in a conventional manner. Fun fact: the turbo can spin at speeds up to 170,000 rpm which seems to be the approximate speed of the blades on your author’s Lasko 3300 Wind Machine box fan on setting number three. All this – the turbo, not my cooling device in the garage – is good for an output of 375 horses and 354 lb-ft of twist. Exclusively rear-wheel drive, an AMG 9-speed automatic is part of the deal and 60 mph should appear in less than 5 seconds.


This inclusion of a small-displacement engine should not strike fear in the hearts of traditionalists. After all, the R129 was available for years with a six-pot engine making 228 ponies – just three more than a Mustang GT, at the time – though it could be had with a five-speed manual. Gearheads insist this configuration was actually the one to get, despite the V8 option grabbing all the magazine headlines. They were probably right.

This trim will retain many of the interior tricks which makes the current SL a treat, such as the 11.9-inch central touchscreen which may be electrically adjusted from 12 to 32 degrees during times when the California sun is being annoying. Heated and cooled seats, Nappa leather, LCD instrument cluster – all are present and accounted for. Having spent ample time behind the wheel of a more powerful variant, I can confidently assert it is a very nice place in which to while away the hours.


The SL 43 will be arriving in American dealerships this summer.


[Images: Mercedes]


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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • RHD RHD on May 25, 2023

    It will get lots of compliments at the gas station and in the parking lot. Give me one with a manual transmission, please. The price is outrageous, though. The only purchasers will be elderly millionaires, trying to keep their 30-something gold digger around a little longer by buying her another trinket.

    • See 1 previous
    • RHD RHD on May 26, 2023

      In the box below, where it says "Share your car truths here!", write what you want to say, check it for spelling and grammar, and hit "Comment".


  • ToolGuy ToolGuy on May 25, 2023

    48 Volts?!? That is way too scary.

    Signed, Your Favorite OEM


  • Varezhka The biggest underlying issue of Mitsubishi Motors was that for most of its history the commercial vehicles division was where all the profit was being made, subsidizing the passenger vehicle division losses. Just like Isuzu.And because it was a runt of a giant conglomerate who mainly operated B2G and B2B, it never got the attention it needed to really succeed. So when Daimler came in early 2000s and took away the money making Mitsubishi-Fuso commercial division, it was screwed.Right now it's living off of its legacy user base in SE Asia, while its new parent Nissan is sucking away at its remaining engineering expertise in EV and kei cars. I'd love to see the upcoming US market Delica, so crossing fingers they will last that long.
  • ToolGuy A deep-dive of the TTAC Podcast Archives gleans some valuable insight here.
  • Tassos I heard the same clueless, bigoted BULLSHEET about the Chinese brands, 40 years ago about the Japanese Brands, and more recently about the Koreans.If the Japanese and the Koreans have succeeded in the US market, at the expense of losers such as Fiat, Alfa, Peugeot, and the Domestics,there is ZERO DOUBT in my mind, that if the Chinese want to succeed here, THEY WILL. No matter what one or two bigots do about it.PS try to distinguish between the hard working CHINESE PEOPLE and their GOVERNMENT once in your miserable lives.
  • 28-Cars-Later I guess Santa showed up with bales of cash for Mitsu this past Christmas.
  • Lou_BC I was looking at an extended warranty for my truck. The F&I guy was trying to sell me on the idea by telling me how his wife's Cadillac had 2 infotainment failures costing $4,600 dollars each and how it was very common in all of their products. These idiots can't build a reliable vehicle and they want me to trust them with the vehicle "taking over" for me.
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