With all the praise heaped on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series lately, it's easy to forget about the "regular" SL65 AMG. With a 0–60-mph time of 3.7 seconds and the quarter mile accomplished in just 11.8 sec., it should not be overlooked. And unlike the Black Series, which has a fixed roof, the standard SL65 can go from hardtop to drop-top in just 16 sec., while its supple suspension also means it's a heckuva lot easier to live with.
The sohc 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12 goes about its business of making 604 bhp and a whopping 738 lb.-ft. of torque in a most understressed way. It reaches peak torque at just 2000 rpm, and although it runs out of steam up high, when you have this much velvety-smooth low-end 12-cylinder power, there's little reason to rev. The SL's "old school" 5-speed automatic doesn't seem to bother the car's performance, either, although throttle-blips on downshifts would help during hard driving.
One feature we'd be happy for Mercedes to leave off the SL65 is the ABC (Active Body Control) suspension—unfortunately, it's standard. While Mercedes says this system reduces body roll by 68 percent (95 percent when the Sport button is switched on), we found it also removes most of the dynamic qualities we rely on during cornering, making it difficult to "feel" the car—or when the tires are at their grip limit. While the active suspension helps the 4555-lb. car achieve a 0.89g skidpad figure, snaking the SL around our slalom cones is an unnatural experience—the ABC creates an opposing force to keep the car flat, which makes it feel as if the car is banking into the turn with each flick of the wheel.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/reviews/a14712/2009-mercedes-benz-sl65-amg/
There's a lot of info in the OP but none are for the actual car in question. Too much egg nog, eh?
