Nothing illustrates just how far the downsizing trend has bitten the industry better than the Mercedes-AMG SL43. Sure, we’ve seen four-cylinder engines in some unlikely luxury and performance settings, including the nose of the Jaguar F-Type, the BMW X5, and AMG’s own C63 S E Performance, which swapped a V8 for a four last year. But a four-banger SL? Isn’t that like Apple making an iPhone with a 2-megapixel camera?
Mercedes-Benz USA was chewing over that same quandary last April when AMG in Germany revealed the SL43, six months after we’d been introduced to the V8-powered SL55 and 63. Would North American drivers really buy an SL with a 2.0-liter four? We still don’t know the answer to that but we will at least now get the chance to find out because MB USA has confirmed the SL43 for sale in America.
And jibes aside, we can see why some people might be tempted. For a start, the $109,900 (plus $1,150 destination fees) price comes far enough below the SL55’s $137,400 entry point, so it might bring in buyers who love the look and kudos of the SL, but couldn’t previously afford the price of admission.
Related: New Entry-Level 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL43 Gets A Four-Cylinder With An Electric Turbo
So what do you get (or not get) for your $109k? Most obviously you forgo the SL55’s 4.0-liter V8 for a 2.0-liter four, although that might not be as catastrophic as it sounds. For a start, the mild-hybrid SL43’s 375 hp (380 PS), while hardly epic, probably isn’t as far behind the SL55’s 469 hp (476 PS) as you might think (though it’s still weedier than the 2.0 C43 sedan), and the F1-derived electric turbocharger should help with the response. Plus, although the 43 won’t sound anywhere near as good and the 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) is way down on the 55’s 516 lb-ft (700 Nm), the little guy has a lot less weight to move.
The small engine is obviously lighter, and the rear-wheel drive SL43 does without the 55’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system. Admittedly, the acceleration figures prove that’s not enough to even the score – zero to 60 mph takes 4.8 seconds (4.9 to 100 km/h) in the SL43 and 3.8 seconds (3.9 seconds) in the 55. But that’s maybe not the end of the story because all of that associated weight saving is from the front end, so there’s a good chance the SL43 could have the sweetest handling of all Mercedes-AMG SLs.
Though the 43 gets 19-inch wheels as standard, different front and rear bumpers, as well as round (not squared) exhaust tailpipes, it still looks similar enough to its big brothers that a de-badge and upgrade to twenties will fool the average onlooker. Until you start it up, of course.
Would you settle for an SL with an inline four or would you downsize your other outgoings to make sure you could afford the extra monthly payment for an SL55?
