Each new year seems to bring a more powerful and exotic variation of this sinuous, sensuous roadster. The current range debuted as the 2003 SL500, powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine. The magnificent twin-turbo, twelve-cylinder SL600 followed for 2004, along with the high-performance supercharged V8 SL55 AMG. Now comes the mightiest SL yet: The 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG with an aggressively turbocharged V12 that develops 604 whopping horsepower and a mountainous 738 pound-feet of torque.

In addition to power, every SL is packed with leading-edge technology to keep it safe and controllable. Every SL comes standard with traction control, electronic stability control, electronic brake distribution and brake assist. The electronically controlled ABC active suspension greatly reduces the roll and pitch for improved grip. We've driven various SL models at Hockenheim (a race track in Germany), at Road America (a road racing circuit in Wisconson), at Milan Dragway in Michigan, and for hundreds of road miles, and we are continually amazed at their graceful high-speed behavior and race-level performance.