The Mercedes-Benz SL500 was a variant of the R129 SL-Class that was introduced for the 1994 model year after Mercedes changed their naming conventions during 1993 across all models, moving the model letters (SL) before the engine displacement (500), resulting in the 500SL becoming the SL500. The SL500 was initially powered by Mercedes' M119 5.0L V8 32 valve engine, although in 1998, this 322hp unit was replaced by the M113 engine (302hp). Production of the R129 SL500 lasted until 2002, although the model series would continue life in the next generation of SL as the R230 Mercedes-Benz SL500.