Mercedes produces a 63 AMG flavoured SL

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What is it?

AMG's ultimate interpretation of the SL. Forget the showy mega-power SL 65 AMG; this is the SL that Volker Mornhinweg, Chairman of the Management Board Mercedes-Benz AMG describes as the "most fascinating and exciting". It's the flagship performance car in the new, revised, SL range, AMG taking the opportunity with the SL's overhaul to add its 6.2-litre V8 under the power-domed bonnet and behind the new grille and headlamps. The naturally aspirated V8 is all AMG rather than a heavily modified Mercedes-Benz engine, and it delivers a heady 517bhp and 464lb.ft of torque.

That's enough to see the SL 63 AMG sprint to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds and onto an electronically limited 155mph maximum. If you're likely to be holidaying in Germany regularly and want wind in the hair at more than 155mph, AMG offers the option to have the limiter raised to 186mph. The installation of the new engine has also allowed AMG to introduce its new transmission, which is an odd manual automatic amalgam that retains a two-pedal set-up but utilises a clutch instead of a torque converter. That allows it, in its fastest, manual, mode to shift in 100 milliseconds - or as quick as Ferrari's SuperFast system in the 599 GTB Fiorano.

Is it any good?

AMG is very proud of its new transmission and it has every right to be. It's fast, and offers four different modes. The Manual mode is when it's at its best, it shifting quickly under your command (though it can sometimes be reluctant to downshift for engine braking), the Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes leaving the SL to do its own shifting with varying degrees of speed and smoothness. Comfort leaves downshifts free of throttle blips, the Sport, Sport+ and Manual's trumpeting fanfare of a lower gear increasing in severity, Manual obviously featuring the most sustained, intense blip.

Electronics make up a good portion of the driving experience, as alongside the rotary dial for the transmission there is a button to select your preferred ESP setting. These consist of fully on, ESP Sport - which gives a degree of slip - and ESP off. The latter is perhaps best left to the track. The heart of the SL 63 is unquestionably its engine; the performance is fantastic, if not as brutal as its predecessor. The SL 63 feels like a more delicate, balanced performance car with all-round ability compared to the thuggish nature of the SL 55 AMG. Key to this is the 6.2-litre V8's more linear torque and power delivery, and the enhancements AMG have made to the chassis. The suspension retains the same set-up, but new settings all-round have transformed the ride, while the handling has gone up a notch or two as well. Inside, there is a new telematics systems, new seats and the same ability to transform the SL 63 from a roadster into a coupé in just 16 seconds by pressing a button.

Should I call the bank manager?

There are few cars that offer the extraordinary rounded performance of the SL 63. It's a comfortable cruiser, a cool cabriolet and wickedly fast muscle car all wrapped up in a great looking package. To get your hands on one you'll need a whopping £101,975, but considering that it pretty much rolls three cars into one then that's actually not too bad - certainly it's cheaper than Bentley's Continental GTC, which only offers a folding canvas roof in place of the SL's folding hardtop. While you're borrowing the £101,975 off the bank you might want to ask for a few - make that around £15-20k - more pounds for some of the trick extras AMG offers. That speed limiter raising Driver's Package for one, and the Performance Pack which adds a limited slip differential. After that there should be enough left for the fantastic matte finish paint that AMG was showing off as part of its Performance Studio enhancements.

Summary

The SL 63 might have lost some of the savagery of its SL 55 predecessor, but it's undoubtedly a more responsive, more precise and measured driving machine as a result. The new transmission impresses, as do the new looks and the engine, but there's no denying that it's a touch less exciting as a result of its greater finesse. With the SL 55 there was always some edginess to create a bit of fear; the SL 63 removes that, replacing it with quite staggering ability.

Kyle Fortune

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