Now in its seventh-generation, the Mercedes SL (or SL-Class) is an upmarket two-door convertible and the latest in a long line of SL models that date back to the original 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ of the 1950s.

This latest iteration shares its platform with the second-generation AMG GT, and is the first SL to be sold under the performance ‘Mercedes-AMG’ brand rather than the traditional ‘Mercedes-Benz’ name.

Powered by a 4.0-litre V8 with an impressive 0-62mph sprint time of 3.6 seconds, and with the availability of all-wheel drive for the first time in an SL, the new model places more emphasis on performance and handling than the last few SL iterations, which prioritised comfort and luxury.

Despite its greater emphasis on sporting prowess, the SL still offers a refined interior that draws many luxuries from the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class saloon. As a result, several reviewers conclude that the SL struggles to successfully occupy a middle ground between a relaxing grand tourer and an adrenaline-packed sports car, to its detriment.