The SL 55 AMG was the fastest car in the world fitted with an automatic transmission at the time of its launch.
Its power and performance transformed the car into a high-performance GT.

The fifth generation of the SL was introduced at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. The most important change over the previous generation was the introduction of the retractable hard-top instead of a canvas top. The SLK success was a convincing recipe, which was adopted by the luxurious GT vehicle.

With a raked front fascia and windshield, the SL looked more like a sports car, but its luxurious interior and soft suspension transformed it into a true GT vehicle. The retractable hard-top was a novelty for the SL-class since it made the car both a coupe and a convertible. But the AMG version was less of a GT and more of a sports-car.

The early versions featured some luxury features such as leather seats and an infotainment unit with navigation. Over its life-cycle, the car was transformed slowly and received better amenities, such as a bigger screen, heated and ventilated seats, and radar-based cruise control. To cover and uncover the car it took just 16 seconds.

Over 19.000 units were produced between 2001 and 2006 when the car received a facelift. Its 5.5-liter supercharged engine was mated to a standard 5G-Tronic automatic gearbox. Without a speed limiter, the car was able to reach 202 mph (325 kph) on a test-track.