The seventh-generation SL-Class is fast and sporty, designed fully by AMG with the goal of making it among the most performance-focused roadsters to wear the three-pointed star since the SL 300 Gullwing. We've already spent quite a bit of time evaluating the top-dog SL 63 during our Car of the Year and Performance Vehicle of the Year competitions. So we were curious to see how much performance gets left on the table by going with the "base-model" (in the U.S.) SL 55, which starts at just less than $140,000, roughly $40,000 cheaper than the SL 63.The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 shared between the SL 55 and SL 63 makes 469 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque in 55 duty (compared to 577 and 590 in the 63). As in the 63, there's a nine-speed automatic transmission, and AMG's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is a first for an SL. Standard rear-axle steering is also a first for the model.
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