The 2026 Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.
2026 Mercedes-AMG SL 43: Brooklyn Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: 2026 Mercedes-AMG SL 43
The SL 43 is the entry point to the 2026 SL Roadster range: $112,550 MSRP plus $1,350 destination for a handcrafted 2.0-liter turbo-four making 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, aided by an electric exhaust-gas turbocharger adapted from AMG's Formula 1 program. It's the first four-cylinder SL since the 1960s, and the only one in rear-wheel drive — every other SL runs all-wheel drive. Zero to 60 takes 4.6 seconds, and EPA estimates land at 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg, the best fuel economy in the lineup by a wide margin. Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn, Brooklyn's only authorized Mercedes-AMG dealer, is where the four-cylinder SL meets a borough that will actually appreciate the lighter front end.
Every SL engine, including the SL 43's turbo-four, carries the signature of the single technician who built it. Photo: Mercedes-Benz USA.
Formula 1 technology, four cylinders
The headline engineering story on the SL 43 isn't really about displacement, it's about where the turbo lag went. An electric exhaust-gas turbocharger, developed from AMG's work with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 team, spins independently of exhaust flow, which is the part that used to make small-displacement AMGs feel hesitant off the line. Paired with a mild hybrid assist and the same AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT nine-speed used across the range, the SL 43 makes 416 hp at 6,750 rpm and 369 lb-ft in a broad 3,000-5,000 rpm band, enough to move the lightest SL in the lineup to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It's still an SL, in other words — just one that happens to sip fuel by roadster-flagship standards.
That lightness shows up in the spec sheet in a way the other three trims don't share: the SL 43 is rear-wheel drive only. AMG Performance 4MATIC+ starts one rung up, on the SL 55, so the 43 is the purist's answer for drivers who want the classic rear-drive roadster feel rather than the all-weather security the V8 cars offer. Multimode adaptive damping, standard on the SL 55, is an available option here rather than standard equipment, one of the real differences worth knowing before configuring.
The case for the four-cylinder in a V8 family
Buyers cross-shopping the SL range sometimes assume the 43 is a placeholder trim that exists to print a lower "starting at" number. The specification sheet argues otherwise: 416 hp comfortably outruns SL models from a decade ago that wore V8 badges, and the four-cylinder's lower nose weight is part of why AMG kept it rear-drive rather than bolting on 4MATIC+ for the sake of parity. For a Brooklyn buyer who wants the soft-top experience, the handcrafted-engine story, and the SL cabin without stepping past $115,000, it's a complete car rather than a compromise.
What owners say about buying AMG here
Wagdi Abdelshahid's review of the sales process reads like the experience this price point is supposed to deliver: "Thanks to Albert Salib for his great help and effort to purchase my new car that suits my need. I highly recommend Mr. Albert Salib to all family and friends. Just ask for Albert and see the extra ordinary service by yourself and thank me later." It wasn't an SL purchase specifically, but it's the same sales floor and the same standard the SL 43's first Brooklyn owners will be held to.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the 2026 AMG SL 43?
$112,550 MSRP plus $1,350 destination before options, with NYC's 8.875% combined sales tax on top for city residents. Some third-party listings round the $112,550 figure as if it already includes destination — it doesn't. The pricing and leasing guide covers the full math.
Is the SL 43 all-wheel drive?
No. It's the only rear-wheel-drive model in the SL lineup. The SL 55, SL 63 and SL 63 S E PERFORMANCE all get AMG Performance 4MATIC+ standard.
How fast is the SL 43?
4.6 seconds to 60 mph, with 416 hp and 369 lb-ft from the turbocharged four-cylinder. It's the slowest SL on paper and still quicker than most cars on the Belt Parkway.
What's the fuel economy on an SL 43?
EPA estimates are 19 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg, meaningfully better than the V8 SLs (14/21/16), a byproduct of the smaller engine and lighter, rear-drive-only layout.
Should I get the SL 43 or step up to the SL 55?
The SL 43 suits buyers who prize rear-drive feel, lower running costs and the lowest entry price into the range; the SL 55 guide covers the V8, all-wheel-drive step up for another roughly $33,000.
Where can I find an SL 43 in Brooklyn?
At Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn on Shore Parkway. Given the SL's limited production, a call ahead on configuration and timing saves a wasted trip.
The rational SL
Nobody buys a roadster purely on a spreadsheet, but the SL 43 is the version where the spreadsheet actually helps the case: best fuel economy in the family, lowest entry price, and an engine story that borrows directly from a race series most buyers will never otherwise touch. The rest of the lineup, V8 and up, starts at the 2026 SL overview.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,350 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy numbers are EPA estimates and real-world results will differ. Equipment, packages, and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn.