Mercedes confirmed official pricing for the new SL in the American market, where it goes on sale from May. As you’d expect from a German, open-top, luxury sports car, it’s a 100 grand car. To be more precise, it starts at $106,375. That sounds like a lot, but then this car is a Swiss army knife. The range of Mercedes SL’s capabilities simply boggles the mind. So it’s kinda worth it.

The new SL550 – the Americans don’t get the350 V6 just yet – is powered by a new V8 engine with 430hp and 516 pound-feet of torque. Unless you are crazy about the amazing soundtrack of the SL63, this engine will give you all the performance you’ll ever need.

The 2013 Mercedes SL also features an all-aluminum structure and body, which makes it light, and that makes it good to drive. It is also fully loaded with options and features. It’s only the looks which might cause someone who’s shopping for a luxury sports car to go and by the BMW 650i instead.

The new V8 in the SL 550 develops 320 kW (435 hp) from its displacement of 4663 cc and thus around 12 percent more than its predecessor despite some 0.8 litres less displacement. The fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 22 percent. At the same time, the torque has increased from 530 Nm to 700 Nm – a gain of 32 percent. The 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, which has been optimised in relation to fuel consumption and comfort, also contributes to the exemplary, low fuel consumption. The SL 550 takes just 4.6 seconds – eight tenths less than the previous SL 550 – to hit 60mph.