Mercedes-Benz SL-Class News

There's a reason why some nameplates have been around for so long. Many are the pioneering vehicle's in their respective segments, still dominating sales as they did 50, 60, and in some cases, even 70 years ago.

This year’s top five was a relatively straight-forward selection process. Yes, there were one or two new arrivals on the edge of the cut, but in the end the five below stood out.

An SL sports GT model has been part of the Mercedes-Benz line-up since the early 1950s, and after a five-year hiatus the Mercedes-AMG SL63 roadster is making a comeback to the Australian market.

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the entry point to its new-generation SL model, the AMG SL 43, which eschews the twin-turbo petrol V8 of its upmarket siblings in favour of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.Due to land in Australian showrooms before year's end, t

Mercedes-Benz ripped the covers off its latest model, the all-new SL, which will land in local showrooms in the second half of 2022 to take on other drop-top supercars.While every other manufacturer continues to eliminate low-volume niche models to ma

COVID-19 has spread its virus right through the economy, infecting even unlikely pockets like the classic-car market as used-car stocks dry up, overseas holidays get crossed off the list and people with money search for passions create a rare opportunity for rising prices.

Mercedes-Benz's expanding Australian line-up is nearing 100 options, but each model, including niche and low volume vehicles has to pull its weight, according to the German car-maker.

Third-generation SLK update brings new SLC name and much sharper pricing for Australia.

Afzal Kahn has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds building up one of Britain’s most impressive private plate collections.  And the most desirable of the registrations is his beloved 'F1', which currently sits on the front of his Bugatti Veyron supercar.The entrepreneur caused a stir when, in 2008, he paid a staggering £440,000 ($765,300) for the cherished plate -- a British record. But it’s proven to be a savvy investment with the plate’s value increasing by more than ten times after one ultra-rich individual offered £6million for it.Drivers in the United Arab Emirates are even more fanatical about personal registrations. The single digit ‘1’ sold in February 2008, for £7.25 million ($12.61m) , reportedly to Abu Dhabi businessman Saeed Khouri, then 25.Personal plates can be a good investment, if you make the right choice. VIP 1, which originally belonged to Pope John Paul II’s Popemobile, was bought for £62,000 ($107,840) in 2004 – two years later Roman Abramovich bought it for £285,000 ($495,730).However, Mr Kahn, who runs A Kahn Design in Bradford, rejected the offer believing it is worth considerably more. Indeed, he has no pressing need for new cars, with our pictures also showing him posing with the plate attached to his Mercedes SLR McLaren. Mr Khan's refusal to sell the plate means that he still likely holds the record for spending the most money on a UK registration plate.A spokesman for Mr Khan's company said: 'We have received a significant multi-million pound offer for the F1 plate which we rejected out of hand. Mr Kahn has no interest in selling F1, which is his favourite plate. Cherished number plates, unlike property or other investments tend not to fluctuate in value, they only go up. It really shouldn’t be a shock to people that the number plate is worth millions of pounds.'The 109-year-old registration was on a modest Volvo S80 when Kahn bought the plate in 2008. It was used by the chairman of Essex County Council with the local authority using the funds from the sale to raise money for a charity which aimed to raise the standards for young drivers. 'F1' now makes up part of Mr Kahn’s impressive plate collection which includes the registrations ‘4HRH’ and ‘NO1’.  

But we've beaten him to the prize - a sinister gunmetal grey Benz belter. The SL63 AMG is idling with intent as I arrive in the pit lane that will be the home of Formula One this weekend as the 2013 grand prix season kicks into gear.The final touches are being applied to the course but the SL has already been polished and preened for an early preview of the action. It is strong and eager as I ease onto the main straight and - very, very briefly - uncork its turbocharged V8 power.There is a strict 40km/h speed limit for me, but Doohan will be let completely off the leash when he compete in the Ultimate Speed Comparison this weekend. He is up against his racing mates David Coulthard and Casey Stoner in a contest that's intended to highlight the difference between a regular road car, a V8 Supercar and a full-on F1 car.Stoner is wheeling the V8 this time and Coulthard, a grand prix winner in Australia with McLaren, is sliding into one of last year's Red Bull rockets. "It's a bit of fun," Doohan tells me. "You're never going to beat a Formula One car, even in an AMG Mercedes."I know exactly what he means because I had two years as the road-car rabbit at Albert Park, running BMW M cars against the grand prix greyhounds. I will never forget the first time that Christian Klien blasted his BMW F1 car past me down the front straight, running more than 100km/h quicker in an explosion of noise and violence.I had always though that an M car was fast, but as I applied the brakes for Turn One at around 210km/h he calmly shifted into top gear and zipped in ahead of me trailing a huge wash of dirt and debris from the unused side of the track. It took me a while to get my breath after that one.This time, I know the SL63 and I know Albert Park, and I know the enjoyment that Doohan will be having. He might have won his five world titles on two wheels, but the 500cc tyro loves fast cars and has been an AMG ambassador for more than 10 years.What's he like as a driver? He's fast for sure, as I have seen from the passenger seat, but he's never going to score maximum style points. "The SL63 is a fantastic car.To romp it around the racetrack should be a bit of fun," Doohan says."It's not too serious, but it is still a race. I know Mercedes-Benz wants to win, and so does Red Bull Racing, and Casey. The idea is to have all three cars cross the finish line at exactly the same time. "But you don't want to put the car in the wall."This car is specially built for Doohan's drive, and weighs in with a $409,575 pricetag. When you catch your breath, that means a base price of $381,500 boosted by metallic grey paint that looks like it was peeled off a jet fighter, an AMG performance package that unleashes extra turbo torque, a panoramic sunroof and matt-black alloys that are 19 inches on the nose and 20 inches on the tail.But the most striking difference is Doohan's name on the side windows. And that's what has people staring as Carsguide noses out into ordinary Melbourne traffic in the F1 racer.I have driven the SL63 before, and absolutely loved an early-morning blast last year in southern Spain, but its a revelation on the pockmarked bitumen. It is obviously fast and firm, but also surprisingly cosseting and enjoyable. And even the seven-speed auto can slur for minimal intrusion.For me, it's a better everyday car than the Benz SLS, because it rides smoother and you can also drop the top for sunshine fun. It has more than enough performance with 395 kiloWatts and 800 Newton-metres, even though the SLS is more brutal again with 420kW, and you save big against a gullwing that is priced from at least $468,320.As we head around Albert Park and dodge the workers who are putting the final touches to the course, Doohan's words come back to me. "The only time things get a bit iffy in a road car is if the track is wet. Then you're working," he tells me.This is a bit of a surprise from a bloke who had so much brilliance on a bike. He might have ended his career in an ambulance, but Mighty Mick always rode like he was racing with the devil on his tail. And, even today, he does not play well with others.He has channeled his efforts into a booming aircraft business in jet charters, owns nightclubs and property, and has a matt-black helicopter parked in the shed at his Gold Coast spread.When he pulls on his famous helmet this weekend, he says he is looking to have some fun and a bit of a speed."You can't just stooge or dawdle around. I remember the time that Pedro de la Rosa disappeared under the rear wing of Jaffa, that CLK63 Black Series, as we were coming onto the straight. I just didn't see him," Doohan says."But my job is to be consistent every day. We want to show people the difference in speed between the three types of cars. "It should be good with DC and Casey. We'll be looking across at each other and having a bit of a laugh."This reporter is on Twitter: @paulwardgover