[manticore]

Cut to the department of elapsed time. From a standing start, the Mercedes SL600 can hurl its 4501-pound bulk to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Does that sound like a very brief interval? Clue: yes.

Allow us to illustrate.The Porsche 911 GT2 we tested in March 2002—456 horsepower, 457 pound-feet of torque—required 3.8 seconds to achieve mile-a-minute velocity. The Dodge Viper we tested in November '02—500 horsepower, 525 pound-feet—took 3.9 seconds. The 911 GT3 and Ferrari Challenge Stradale in our January issue each clocked in at 4.0 seconds.

Let's check the next notch on the elapsed-time yardstick. The 911 GT2 covered the quarter-mile in 12 seconds flat, the Viper in 12.1, the GT3 and Stradale in 12.3 and 12.4, respectively. The SL600 did it in 11.9. That's not quite as quick as the Ford GT, but it would have put this elegant Benz in a tie for fifth place (out of 15 cars) in the quarter-mile elapsed-time competition in our September 2002 "Supercar Challenge."

Yet another contrast: The SL600 trumps the SL55 AMG, even though the AMG edition weighs in a tad lighter (4411 pounds), packs the same horsepower (493), and is the designated SL family hot rod. But in our November '02 test, the SL55 managed only—only!—4.5 seconds to 60, and cruised through the quarter in 13.0 seconds at 110 mph.

So what's up with that? Torque, that's what. It's not that the SL55 is deficient in this power commodity. Its supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 produces 516 pound-feet across a broad plateau of grunt that ranges from 2750 to 4000 rpm. Our test characterized its thrust as prodigious, and we stand by that assertion. But if the SL55's torque is prodigious, the SL600's is—what? monumental? heroic? elephantine?

Fed by twin turbos with twin intercoolers, the SL600's SOHC 36-valve, 60-degree aluminum V-12 spools up 590 pound-feet of torque, maintaining that mountainous level from 1800 rpm to 3500 rpm. The five-speed automatic offers a three-mode manumatic function, just as it does in the SL55, but with such an abundance of muscle, augmented by quick throttle response, it seems superfluous. When the driver wishes to summon haste, he has only to tramp on the pedal and the V-12 will mash him against the seatback in a flash.

Vehicle type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster
Price as tested: $136,870 (base price: $129,270)
Engine type: twin-turbocharged and intercooled SOHC 36-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 336 cu in, 5513cc
Power (SAE net): 493 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 590 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm

Transmission: 5-speed automatic with
manumatic shifting
Wheelbase: 100.8 in
Length/width/height: 178.5/72.0/51.0 in
Curb weight: 4501 lb

Zero to 60 mph: 3.6 sec
Zero to 100 mph: .8.6 sec
Zero to 120 mph: .11.9 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 4.5 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 11.9 sec @ 120 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 155 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 178 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.88 g
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 13 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 14 mpg

courtesy - car and driver mag

[Rehaan]

Hey Manticore.....

Very interesting read....could you provide a link so we could get our hands on the whole article...im interested to see the other 11cars!!

And FYI...i just wanted to clarify that we are talking abt the S600 not the SL600 .....just incase u misread that! ;-]

cheers
Rehaan

[rgowani]

Yea But Rehaan,
Its got the same Engine although the SL600 is more Heavier, so Frankly speaking the S600 can do 0-60 in 3.3 Seconds. Which is realllllyyyy FAST in the Range of Supercars.

[Rehaan]

Hey RG,

Good point there. Though the S600 is actually just a tiny bit heavier (4,610lbs).
I just imagined that there would be a large difference in the drivetrain between the SL and the S. I can only imagine there would be different final drive ratio, if not differently geared boxes....

One thing i did overlook however is that fact that the powerplant is turbocharged...and not just turbocharged..twin turbocharged..... so that gives a lot more room to play with when modding the ECU....wastegate management et al....

3.x sec timings for any car is phenomenal...and to be able to do it in syle like an S is phenomenal!...
Im personally a bigger fan of torque than bhp, and merc engines always push out elephant pooploads of torque.... gotta love that!

cheers...

[manticore]

Here the link to the sl600 article guys. read on.....

sl600 article