The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL43 is an entry-level model in the world of SL roadsters, with half the engine size of its peers. Instead of a twin-turbo V8 engine, it has a ʺmerelyʺ turbo 4-cylinder, but since it is an AMG model, this is by no means bad news.
2023 Mercedes-AMG SL43 is the first production car to boast electric gas turbocharger technology. 2.0 liter turbine gasoline 4-cylinder the engine has technology from Formula 1, and it is required for the operation of the turbocharger 48-volt the electrical system that supplies the starter-generator. To make it easier to understand, the electric motor is used to rotate the turbocharger until the exhaust gases take over this task. The advantage of this technology is more efficient operation of the engine and an always responsive gas pedal, regardless of the number of revolutions.
The engine that powers the SL43 produces 381 (280 kW) horsepower and 480 newton meters of torque. The electric starter-generator contributes even more 14 (10 kW) horsepower, but only for a short time, so in this case we could talk about a mild hybrid, but only from a technical point of view. Power is transferred via 9-speed of the MCT automatic transmission and only on the rear wheel pair. In SL43 you will be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h needed 4.9 seconds and reach top speed at 275 km/h. It may indeed have "half the size" of the other SL models, but that does not mean that it has half the capacity. The smaller engine means less weight over the front wheels, which gives the SL43 its own driving characteristics.
To the casual observer, the SL43 looks the same as the other models in the SL range, but the keen eye will notice changes in the front air vents and a cleaner rear end, with no vertical vents. Apart from the engine and the mentioned differences, we can find the same in the SL43 model technology as in the SL55 and SL63 models. We are talking about rear-wheel steering, different driving profiles, the AMG dynamic package, a luxurious interior and, of course, the MBUX digital system.
