Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) · Facelift 2016
Car comparison
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) · Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8vsMercedes-Benz SL (R129) · Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12
Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.
New comparisonMercedes-Benz SL (R129) · Facelift 1998
AMG SL 73 V12
Comparison overview
Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.
Best choices
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8
- Quickest 0-100 km/h4.1 s
- Fastest top speed270 km/h168 mph Unrestricted250 km/h155 mph Restricted
- Most powerful571 hp426 kW
- Highest torque900 Nm664 lb-ft
- Lightest1,770 kg3,902 lb
- Best power-to-weight323 hp/t241 kW/t3.1 kg/hp
- Lowest combined fuel consumption11.7 L/100 km20.1 mpg US24.1 mpg UK
- Lowest city consumption15.1 L/100 km15.6 mpg US18.7 mpg UK
- Lowest highway consumption9.8 L/100 km24.0 mpg US28.8 mpg UK
- Best estimated range641 km398 mi
- Largest trunk504 L
- Best overall score69/100
- Best performance score86/100
- Best economy score75/100
- Best practicality score32/100
Specification comparison
| Model | Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 571hp426kW | 525hp391kW |
| Torque | 900Nm664lb-ft | 750Nm553lb-ft |
| Curb weight | 1,770kg3,902lb | 1,975kg4,354lb |
| Gross weight | 2,180kg4,806lb | 2,320kg5,115lb |
| Top speed | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated |
| To 99% top speed | 49.4s99% target: 267 km/h / 166 mph Calculated | 62.3s99% target: 267 km/h / 166 mph Calculated |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.1s | 4.8s |
| 0-200 km/h | 13.1s Calculated | 15.9s Calculated |
| 0-60 mph | 3.9s Calculated | 4.6s Calculated |
| Fuel consumption | 11.7L/100 km20.1mpg US24.1mpg UK | 15.9L/100 km14.8mpg US17.8mpg UK |
| Fuel consumption city | 15.1L/100 km15.6mpg US18.7mpg UK | 24.5L/100 km9.6mpg US11.5mpg UK |
| Fuel consumption highway | 9.8L/100 km24mpg US28.8mpg UK | 11.4L/100 km20.6mpg US24.8mpg UK |
| Quarter mile | 12.1s Calculated | 12.9s Calculated |
| Power-to-weight | 323hp/t241kW/t146hp/1000 lb Calculated | 266hp/t198kW/t121hp/1000 lb Calculated |
| Torque-to-weight | 508Nm/t340lb-ft/ton Calculated | 380Nm/t254lb-ft/ton Calculated |
| Estimated range | 641km398mi Calculated | 503km313mi Calculated |
| Displacement | 5,461cc333cu in | 7,291cc445cu in |
| Length | 4,633mm182in | 4,499mm177in |
| Width | 1,877mm74in | 1,812mm71in |
| Height | 1,300mm51in | 1,296mm51in |
| Wheelbase | 2,585mm102in | 2,515mm99in |
| Front track | - | 1,553mm61in |
| Rear track | - | 1,541mm61in |
| Trunk volume | - | 265L |
| Max trunk volume | 504L | - |
| Doors | 2 | 2 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel tank | 75L | 80L |
Performance charts
Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.
Dyno simulation
Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.
- Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8: Power / Torque
- Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12: Power / Torque
| Vehicle | Peak power RPM | Peak torque RPM | Max engine speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 5,500 rpm | 2,250 rpm | 5,750 rpm |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 5,500 rpm | 4,000 rpm | 5,750 rpm |
Acceleration curve
Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.
| Metric | Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 |
|---|---|---|
| Acceleration checkpoints | ||
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h | 3.9 s | 4.6 s |
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph | 4.1 s | 4.8 s |
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph | 13.1 s | 15.9 s |
| Top speed | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Limited | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Limited |
| Drag race simulation | ||
60 ft 18 m | 2.1 s | 2.2 s |
330 ft 101 m | 5.3 s | 5.7 s |
1/8 mile 201 m | 7.9 s | 8.5 s |
1000 ft 305 m | 10.2 s | 10.9 s |
1/4 mile 402 m | 12.1 s | 12.9 s |
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m | 193 km/h 120 mph | 182 km/h 113 mph |
Power comparison
Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 571 hp 426 kW |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 525 hp 391 kW |
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8 has 46 hp more than Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12.
The biggest power difference is between Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12 and Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8: 46 hp (34 kW).
Torque comparison
Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 900 Nm 664 lb-ft |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 750 Nm 553 lb-ft |
Curb weight comparison
Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 1,770 kg 3,902 lb |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 1,975 kg 4,354 lb |
Top speed without limiter comparison
Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph |
0-100 km/h comparison
Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 4.1 s |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 4.8 s |
The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8 and Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12: 0.7 s.
Fuel consumption comparison
Bar comparison chart for Fuel consumption. Lower is better · L/100 km / mpg US / mpg UK
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 11.7 L/100 km 20.1 mpg US 24.1 mpg UK |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 15.9 L/100 km 14.8 mpg US 17.8 mpg UK |
The biggest fuel consumption difference is between Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8 and Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12: 4.2 L/100 km.
Power-to-weight comparison
Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 323 hp/t 241 kW/t 3.1 kg/hp |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 266 hp/t 198 kW/t 3.8 kg/hp |
Estimated range comparison
Bar comparison chart for Estimated range. Higher is better · km / mi
| Vehicle | Value |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 641 km 398 mi |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 503 km 313 mi |
Performance spider chart
Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.
| Vehicle | Power | Acceleration | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 571 hp 426 kW | 4.1 s | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 525 hp 391 kW | 4.8 s | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph |
Most attractive quadrant
Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.
| Vehicle | Performance score | Practicality score | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 |
|
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| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 |
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Performance vs fuel economy
Cars closer to the top-right corner combine stronger performance with better fuel economy scores.
| Vehicle | Performance score | Fuel economy score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 |
| 11.7 L/100 km 20.1 mpg US 24.1 mpg UK | ||||||
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 |
| 15.9 L/100 km 14.8 mpg US 17.8 mpg UK | ||||||
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8 is closest to the top-right balance target for performance and fuel economy.
Acceleration vs fuel consumption
Cars closer to the lower-left corner offer a better mix of quick acceleration and low fuel consumption.
| Vehicle | Fuel consumption, L/100 km | 0-100 km/h, s |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 11.7 L/100 km 20.1 mpg US 24.1 mpg UK | 4.1 s |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 15.9 L/100 km 14.8 mpg US 17.8 mpg UK | 4.8 s |
Power-to-weight vs fuel consumption
The shaded area favors higher power-to-weight with lower combined fuel consumption.
| Vehicle | Power-to-weight, hp/t | Fuel consumption, L/100 km |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | 323 hp/t 241 kW/t 3.1 kg/hp | 11.7 L/100 km 20.1 mpg US 24.1 mpg UK |
| Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | 266 hp/t 198 kW/t 3.8 kg/hp | 15.9 L/100 km 14.8 mpg US 17.8 mpg UK |
Detailed score breakdown
| Vehicle | Mercedes-BenzSL (R231)Facelift 2016AMG SL 63 V8 | Mercedes-BenzSL (R129)Facelift 1998AMG SL 73 V12 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 571 hp 426 kW | 525 hp 391 kW | ||||||||||||||||
| Torque | 900 Nm 664 lb-ft | 750 Nm 553 lb-ft | ||||||||||||||||
| Acceleration | 4.1 s | 4.8 s | ||||||||||||||||
| Top speed | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph | Unrestricted 270 km/h168 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph | ||||||||||||||||
| Lightness | 1,770 kg 3,902 lb | 1,975 kg 4,354 lb | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel consumption | 11.7 L/100 km 20.1 mpg US 24.1 mpg UK | 15.9 L/100 km 14.8 mpg US 17.8 mpg UK | ||||||||||||||||
| Practicality |
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| Range score | 641 km 398 mi | 503 km 313 mi | ||||||||||||||||
| Trunk score | 504 L 17.8 cu ft | 265 L 9.4 cu ft | ||||||||||||||||
| Power-to-weight score | 323 hp/t 241 kW/t 3.1 kg/hp | 266 hp/t 198 kW/t 3.8 kg/hp | ||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Fixed score | Fixed score |
Fuel cost and annual usage
Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.
Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.
LC = Local Currency
| Vehicle | Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8 | Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumption | 11.7 L/100 km20.1 mpg US24.1 mpg UK | 15.9 L/100 km14.8 mpg US17.8 mpg UK |
| Cost / 100 km | 20.47 LC100 km | 27.83 LC100 km |
| Cost / 100 mi | 32.95 LC100 mi | 44.78 LC100 mi |
| Annual fuel used | 1,755 L464 US gal386 UK gal | 2,385 L630 US gal525 UK gal |
| Annual fuel cost | 3,071 LC/year | 4,174 LC/year |
Head-to-head comparisons
Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) Facelift 2016 AMG SL 63 V8
- Has 46 hp more
- Has 150 Nm more
- Is 205 kg lighter
- Is 0.7 s quicker from 0-100 km/h
- Uses 4.2 L/100 km less fuel
- Has 57 hp/t better power-to-weight
- Has 138 km (86 mi) more estimated range
- Has 239 L more trunk volume
Pros
- Quickest 0-100 km/h in this comparison
- Highest top speed
- Most powerful
- Highest torque
- Lightest
- Lowest combined fuel consumption
- Best power-to-weight ratio
- Best estimated range
- Largest trunk
Mercedes-Benz SL (R129) Facelift 1998 AMG SL 73 V12
No measurable advantages in the available data.
Cons
- Slowest 0-100 km/h
- Lowest power
- Highest combined fuel consumption
- Heaviest
- Smallest trunk
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