Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to offer a coupé-cabriolet in the GT segment: it was an exceptional success, from a stylistic and also a technical point of view. Introduced in 2001, the R230 was first available as the SL500 and SL55 AMG, then the range quickly expanded with the SL350 (six-cylinder, 245 horsepower), SL600 and SL65 AMG, with a powerful 612 horsepower twin-turbo V12 engine. Two restylings were carried out, in 2006 and 2008: the second of these brought the SL63 AMG with boomerang headlights. In 2012 the R230 was replaced by the new generation, the R231.