From its debut as a race car 60 years ago, the Mercedes-Benz SL has reigned as the manufacturer's signature offering. It's been a while, though, since its model designation—S and L stood for super and light—accurately described the roadster's curb weight.
With the help of aluminum construction, however, the sixth-generation SL550 weighs 270 pounds less than its predecessor—despite being longer and wider. Mercedes-Benz also improved the engine's output while cutting displacement by 20 percent: the twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 churns out 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
