This is the all-new Mercedes-AMG SL 63. The SL, which stands for Sport Licht in German, and translates to Sport Light, is an iconic model for the German marque. It can trace its lineage back nearly seven decades all the way to the early 1950s. But over the generations, the SL class went from being a sports car to a luxury cruiser. Fast forward to today and Merc has decided to ditch the boulevard cruiser body and has taken the SL back to its roots.
The Mercedes-AMG SL debuted in October 2021 and takes on a whole new form factor where it's gone from a sportscar to a full-on supercar. Internally known as the R232, the seventh-gen SL will replace the AMG-GT Roadster. Also, for the first time in history, the SL will come with 4-Matic AWD as standard. In a bid to save weight (46 pounds), Mercedes has decided to ditch the folding metal hard-top for a more traditional soft top.
2022 Mercedes AMG SL63 Performance and Capability
The SL-Class is now an AMG-exclusive model and is available in two trims. The AMG SL55 and SL63. But this post is all about the top-spec SL 63. The new SL employs a combination of pressed and cast aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber, making it stiffer than the GT Roadster it replaces. Without the rigidity of a roof, the added stiffness obviously has its benefits.
Coming to what's under the hood, both models feature the same hand-crafted 4.0-Liter twin-turbo V-8 powerplant with different states of tune. In the SL 63, it produces 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Now, these numbers for the new SL aren't just more than the outgoing SL550, but they are also more than the AMG-GT Roadster that will soon be replaced by the SL. Mated to a nine-speed AMG SpeedShift automatic gearbox, the V-8 sends power to all four corners now.
Speaking of corners, the AMG SL 63 has some tricks up its sleeve. To improve maneuverability, you now get rear-wheel steering. On the dynamics front, active ride control with hydraulic anti-roll stabilization and electronic limited-slip-differential should help keep things tidy in the bends.
You'll have six driving modes to choose from:
- Slippery
- Comfort
- Sport
- Sport +
- Individual
- Race
An optional extra as part of the AMG Dynamic Plus package on the SL 55, the following equipment comes as standard on the SL 63
AMG Dynamic Plus package
- Dynamic AMG engine mounts
- Electronically controlled AMG limited-slip rear differential
- ‘Race’ driving mode that’s selectable via the AMG steering wheel buttons
- Ride height lowered by 10 mm
- Yellow-painted AMG brake calipers
Exterior Design
Let's talk design. The Pan Americana grille up front not only looks aggressive but pays homage to the classic 300 SL from 1952. The sweptback LED head and tail lights are characterful, to say the least. Bits that are a hit or miss, include the fake trim and air intakes on the front fenders and the rear bumpers and the way the exhaust pipes haven't been properly integrated since the real pipes hide deep within the rear bumper.
AMG SL63 Standard Pacakges
AMG Aerodynamics package
With this package, you get larger flics and a diffuser attachment that not only helps to improve the vehicle's visual appeal but also further its dynamic abilities with sharper handling. The drag coefficient is just 0.31. The integrated rear spoiler also comes into play above 50 mph. It adjusts automatically between five different positions to improve downforce.
AMG Night Package
- Front splitter, side sill trims, mirror caps, and trim element in the rear diffuser finished in high-gloss black
- Darkened tailpipe trims
AMG Night Package II
- AMG Night Package, plus:
- Radiator trim, typography, and the Mercedes star at the rear finished in high-gloss black
Exterior Colors
Standard Colors
- Sun Yellow (Non-metallic)
- Cirrus Silver
- Obsidian Black
- Selenite Grey
- Starling Blue
- Hyper Blue
AMG SL63 Optional Colors
- MANUFAKTUR Monza Grey Magno
- MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Bright
- MANUFAKTUR Moonlight White Magno
- MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red Metallic
- MANUFAKTUR Starling Blue Magno
- MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey (Non-metallic)
You get to choose from three different styles of 21" AMG 10-twin-spoke forged wheels. While a black 3-layer fabric comes as standard, you'll have to pay extra to either get the red or grey soft top.
Interior Quality and Technology
The interior of the new Mercedes SL looks like a very special place to spend time in. The turbine-style air vents and the metallic speaker grilles for the high-end Burmester audio system work well against the Carbon fiber with piano black lacquer trim, which is standard on the SL 63. It certainly livens things up.
The party piece of course is the portrait-style iPad-like infotainment screen that runs the latest MBUX software. This screen has the ability to pivot between 12 and 32 degrees to help mitigate glare when the roof is down. You also get an all-digital dash with eight different display designs to choose from.
As for the seats, AMG sports seats are standard across the SL range, but you can also opt for body-hugging performance seats. You have the option of choosing between seven different shades of Nappa or MANUFAKTUR leather at no extra cost.
Do note that this will depend on what shade of roof color you choose. Other comfort features include the air scarf that'll blow warm air onto your neck on a chilly day. It should work well with the heated seats.
Expect to find a well-insulated cabin with the roof up, but if you want to flood the cabin with even more light and air, the soft top retracts in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 37 mph. The only gripe is there is no physical button for it and you have to use the screen to do it.
Even with the roof down, the AMG SL63 has 8.47 cubic-feet of cargo room. Now Mercedes does call this latest AMG SL, a 2+2, which means you do get two extra seats, but given how tight it is, they'll most likely end up as space for more storage. As for wind noise, you can keep it civil by having the windows up and that rear wind-deflector in place.
2022 Mercedes AMG SL63 Price and Availability
Mercedes has yet to reveal the prices of the latest 2022 Mercedes SL, but expect it to be in the same ballpark as what the current AMG GTC Roadster costs, which carries an MSRP of $165,100 before options. Now that is a significant jump from the old SL 550 that sat at $130,000. But the SL 63 is a different beast altogether and should definitely be worth the price premium.
Main Competition
The power and estimated pricing bring the SL 63 in contention with some pretty serious rivals. The most obvious competitor to the AMG SL 63 is the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet ($189,450), but you can also throw in the Audi R8 Spyder ($ 160,900) and the Aston Martin Volante ($153,172) into the mix. }
While the base Audi R8 Spyder does have a V-10 engine, both the Audi and the Aston Martin convertible have to make do with rear-wheel drive, while the comparable Porsche packs all-wheel drive.
Just when people were in doubt about the mere existence of the SL, (sales were abysmal) as the old SL 550 was barely shifting any numbers, Mercedes decided to give it a fresh lease of life. Mercedes wasn't going to throw in the towel that easy now was it. For now, the SL moniker lives on with an ICE heart, but keeping up with the times, a hybrid is on the horizon.
Catch the Mercedes-AMG SL63 in action in the video below