2007 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

Finding Fault with sport/luxury roadsters the caliber of Mercedes-Benz's SL-Class has never been easy, but determined critics have made a valiant effort. And although customers are snapping up SLs at twice the rate of the nearest competitor (Jaguar's XK), earning Mercedes 45 percent of the market, the SL team is rolling out a host of detail refinements for 2007 aimed at addressing the most constructive criticisms.

Most complainers have zeroed in on the car's steering. Relative to benchmark sports cars (select BMWs and Porsches whose chassis car scribes have given up criticizing), the SL's helm felt slightly dead on center and less communicative generally. Engineers always argued that such a calibration ensured against sneeze-steer catastrophes at top speed on the autobahn. But by quickening the ratio from 16.3:1 to 15.4:1 and sharpening the hydraulic power assist just off-center, the dead spot has been eliminated and without making the car feel nervous (at least up to 140 mph). At saner speeds, the fat-rimmed wheel clearly enunciates step changes in friction when transitioning from grippy new tarmac to older, more polished surfaces. With over a ton of car pressing down on hefty 255/40R18 front tires, the SL's steering will never communicate as eloquently as a 911's does, but it's darned good now. Software changes quicken the reflexes of the Active Body Control system, so that body motions are reduced by about 60 percent, limiting roll to just 1.4 degrees in sport mode, and 2.3 degrees in normal.

Relaxed acceleration was another nag on the current car's 302-horse V-8, which needed around six seconds to achieve 60 mph. An 80-horse, 52-pound-foot oomph-infusion arrives in the form of the S-Class's new 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 (watch for new SL550 nomenclature). Teamed with a 7G-Tronic transmission, 0-to-60 times are expected to drop by more than half-a-second. A new exhaust system eliminates an unpleasant drone and enhances the mellifluous, muffled snarl. Powertrains in the SL55 AMG and SL600 are largely unchanged, though exhaust and engine control system revisions add 17 horsepower to each (for 510 total), not that anyone was pining for more power in those rockets.

To spot a 2007 SL, look for a three-bar grille, a front fascia incorporating larger air intakes and bling-ringed foglamps, new wheels, and taillamps bisected by horizontal white lenses. Inside there's softer leather, standard Sirius satellite radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The trunk divider can now be removed, adding 0.7 cubic foot of space with the top up.

Don't test drive more SL than you can afford. Each variant is a sublime cruiser, top up or down. All offer way more grip, acceleration, braking, and sheer sybaritic pleasure than mere mortals are entitled to. So what's wrong with this latest one? This gimlet-eyed critic won't be able to afford one until it's 15 years old.