The AMG SL’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Portofino doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.
The Mercedes AMG SL has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer knee airbags.
The AMG SL offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Portofino doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.
Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG SL has a standard Maneuvering Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Portofino doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.
The AMG SL offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Portofino doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The AMG SL has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Portofino doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.
The AMG SL has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Portofino’s blind spot costs extra.
To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG SL has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Brake automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Ferrari charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Portofino and the Portofino’s rear cross-path warning does not include automatic braking.
The AMG SL’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Portofino doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the AMG SL and the Portofino have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors and available lane departure warning systems.