MERCEDES-BENZ SL63 AMG Review

Aluminum. This is what differentiates the new Mercedes SL from all its predecessors. Sure, the original 300SL could be built from aluminum, but the price was pure pain. With the 2013 SL, Mercedes is making a proper aluminum proposition, so the car can be proud of its Sport (Sport ) name.

However, such assets alone are irrelevant nowadays, so the new SL tops that with a never-ending list of tech goodies. This thing basically introduces itself as an engineer’s wet dream.

Then again, this is how the model started out in life. The original 1954 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing was literally a race car for the road. By the time the 300SL turned into a roadster, it was already famous. When it comes to what it’s done for the company, the SL should be up there with Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler.

By the way, the 300SL is also the ancestor of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Since we’ve already driven that, it’s time to zoom in on its other descendent, the 2013 Mercedes SL. We followed the late Steve Jobs’ example and went for the AMG model.

We recently got to play with a Mercedes SL63 AMG. The aforementioned aluminum construction, the switch to turbocharging, the new magician’s roof, there were so many things to test about this car.

Walking towards our tester made us realize that the SL, especially in AMG guise, has the allure of an eagle. Look at it, just standing there in the parking lot and surveilling everything in total silence. It’s time to see how this bird flies then.

The Mercedes SL’s proportions are perhaps its most recognizable treat. Various eras have dictated different styling details, but the recipe has never changed. The hood is still longer than a semi. What’s more, we have the same thrown-back passenger compartment that’s connected to an ultra-compact boot area.

The width of the Mercedes SL is clearly its dominant feature. You can see this from any angle, with the SL always looking ready for action. And once again, the Mercedes SL wears its roof with an overconfident air. This car could easily convince a profane that it’s a coupe.

Alas, we can’t help but look at the SL and think that a bit more sense of occasion would’ve been welcome. Some of us were thrilled when the old SL was launched. Well, those of us are just “fine” with the new design.

However, it’s nice to see that, visually speaking, the SL doesn’t quite need the AMG badges - Unlike in the case of its  Mercedes SLK little brother, the AMG body treatment doesn’t change the SL all that much.

Despite this, you’d better pay attention to that front grille and that greedy intake beneath it. These indicate the latest makeup for the AMG family, so their influence is spread far beyond the SL that introduced them.

Moving to the side of the Mercedes SL63 AMG, the “V8 BITURBO” badges act a bit like an attention magnet. Perhaps we can treat these as a weather widget forecasting the storm that sits just a few inches behind them. Our test car rode on the standard 19-inch AMG wheels. As an option, you can have a different design with a 19-inch size up front and 20-inch size at the rear.

There’s one element at the back end of the Mercedes SL63 AMG that draws our attention. We’re talking about the lower rear fascia. Thank you AMG for having the decency not to try to trick us that there’s a diffuser there. We respect that. Seriously, nowadays the industry has gone mad, even superminins have a diffuser.

In fact, the whole rear end of the SL63 AMG requires the “tastefully restrained” tag. What you see is what you get, there are no silly additions here.

Anybody who’s seen a Mercedes SLS cabin will feel strong influences in the new SL. And if the status of the SLS demanded a bit more drama, the styling suits the SL perfectly.

Let’s face it, Mercedes doesn’t exactly have the best interiors in the premium class these days. Thus, we’re very happy the SL learned from its big brother instead of staying in line with the lesser models. However, we have to explain that the visibility in the SL is a step forward compared to that in the SLS.

As you place yourself in your seat, the broad dashboard and center console talk about the car’s potential. The console holds AMG’s new signature control arrangement. Such a handsome and practical layout couldn’t have landed on the SL too soon.

We also had a great time with steering wheel, a sincere bit of kit - this perfectly shows the car’s dual character. Grip it and you’ll understand that the SL63 AMG is both fast and cozy. Make sure you use its perfectly-sized paddles for further communication.

The same can be said about the Designo seats on the car. These may be bolted to a 500+ HP car, but they were totally approved by our backs. Take a look behind the seats though, and you’ll be a bit disappointed.

There’s quite some space here. We have a shelf for stowing “daily” items and a deep pocket that holds the medical kit. Since they were so generous, we can’t help but wish they would’ve pushed an extra inch further and offered the SL with four seats. After all, the money and mentality for buying an SL usually come at an age when you’ve already got a family.

The luggage compartment comes to bring consolation. It all starts with a lid that features a carbon fiber composite inner side. This does help the car keep the weight in check, but the real treat is the weave you see when you open the boot.

Open the boot and you’ll notice the roof (if folded) pulling itself towards the front of the car. You are thus given proper access to what is a pretty generous compartment. The worst case scenario brings a capacity of 8.5 cubic feet (240 liters). With the roof out of the trunk, there’s space for 13.5 cubic feet (381 liters) of your stuff.

Speaking of the Mercedes SL’s Vario Roof, this can go up or down as if it’s directly following your thoughts. Mercedes offers a figure of 20 seconds, but this feels much faster. It’s all due to the effortless operation.

Don’t throw a party just yet folks - unfortunately, you’ll have to come to a complete stop to convince the roof to move. We weren’t too upset though. That’s because we were treated with the Magic Sky Control function. Read on to see what the wizardry's all about.

Judging by the exhaust drumming, you’d say we’re waiting to start the adventure of our lives. Well, we’re just idling in a queue, waiting to make a left turn. The Mercedes SL63 AMG knows how to have a good time around town, that’s for sure.

As we set off, there’s a nice burble that accompanies us. This is what you’ll hear when the powertrain is in the “Controlled Efficiency” mode. We really don’t know why they bothered with the name. They could’ve just called it “Comfort”.

That V8 behemoth up front and the seven-speed gearbox have no problem with being dragged along through the crowded city. We admit we turned off the start-stop system after a while because we enjoyed the exhaust too much.

The whole setup feels light in this mode. We often found ourselves forgetting that we had so much firepower at hand. That’s because the car moves around with ease. This reminded us of the Mercedes SLS AMG, which was also surprisingly relaxed inside the city. However, the SLS’s insanely long hood and visibility limited its abilities.

And as we drive along, we notice just how discreet the SL63 AMG is for a car of such power and price. Sure, there were a few people who took a good look at it, but most of the time you’ll blend in.

Don’t worry though - you won’t make a fool out of yourself by mistaking this for a smart. The hefty width of the Mercedes SL63 AMG will always be there to remind you what you’re driving.

Things never get too rough though, so when it comes to parking, you’ll do just fine. Add the rear shelf and the decent boot and your trips to the shops won’t be a problem.

There was never any doubt that we had just changed gear, but the exhaust’s bark insisted on reminding us of this. We’ve just come out of a tunnel and the exhaust seemed to drill into the rock walls. The Mercedes SL63 AMG huffs, puffs and blows you house down, but only if you want it to. This is a car that both Clark Kent and Superman would drive.

Before entering the tunnel, we had completed a one-hour drive that had “peace and quiet” written all over it. No, we didn’t move slowly, but the SL63 AMG knows how to conceal its speed. The passenger was enjoying his ride with a Grand Tourer smile on his face.

It’s amazing how the Mercedes SL can take you over hundreds and hundreds of miles without placing any strain on you. Right now, we’re referring to the Coupe part of the experience - with the roof in place, the SL feels just like a coupe.

As for when you stow the top, make sure you don’t forget it there. Within the speed limits, we felt almost no indication that we were driving in open-air mode. Just like the SLS AMG Roadster, the SL63 AMG is damn good at keeping the wind noise and the wind itself outside the car.

However, while the SLS doesn’t even come with a nose lift, in the SL63 AMG you can raise the whole car. Thanks to the magic power of our fingers, we were able to lift both axles by 2.2 inches (55 mm). We’ve been lusting for something like that ever since our Bentley Continental GTC V8 test drive.

Since we’re here we’ll compare the two. Pitted against the Continental GT / GTC, the Mercedes SL63 AMG defends its obvious blue blood disadvantage by being considerably sharper. As a Grand Tourer, this is one poised machine that can deliver supercar levels of straight line acceleration.

While the SLS AMG treats you with that delicious natural aspiration linearity and voice, the SL63 battles this with a shock wave of torque. You’re all set starting from 2,000 rpm. From 3,000 onwards you’ll surf the torque wave like crazy.

Presented with a bend, the SL63 AMG stays remarkably flat. This is all thanks to the same suspension that kept the ride comfy a few paragraphs ago. AMG has reworked the Active Body Control and they’ve done wonders.

This thing stays absolutely horizontal no matter what you do to it. It’s like having an artificial horizon that’s broken. Brilliant.

With the ESP in standard mode, things are pretty restrained. The vehicle stays neutral and any moment of inertia is dismissed before your passenger even gets to feel it. The meaty, yet linear power delivery allows you to exploit the chassis’ rich potential through the bends.

Put the ESP in Sport mode though, and you’ll get pretty nice slides. The transition to oversteer and back is done smoothly, even without the limited slip differential. Using the car this way, you’re never going to be afraid of what’s around the corner.

You can also turn the ESP off completely and go berserk, but remember that once you touch the brake, it steps back in.

Here’s where the SL63 AMG loses to the SLS though. It doesn’t feel as sharp when you’re back on the power, for example. Then again, it couldn’t be. Its engine doesn’t sit as low and it wasn’t even set up in the same way. Nevertheless, the overall balance is tipped towards the SL, not the SLS. The first offers a more usable package, you can enjoy its assets over a broader range of scenarios.

The SL63 AMG may not be built from the ground up by Affalterbach’s specialists like the SLS, but the AMG bits are well integrated. And, like in the SLS Roadster’s case, you don’t feel any open-top weakness when you’re on the road.