The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 is each an outstanding and hard-to-love roadster multi function. There are few issues it does mistaken or poorly. Its acceleration is relentless. Its suspension wizardry works like a attraction. The inside is definitively luxurious. You may additionally make the argument that it’s one of many best-looking vehicles on sale at present. It has all of this going for it, however man, it’s simply not as a lot enjoyable appropriately.
For earlier generations of SL, being a sports activities automobile was not their acknowledged missions. Positive, there have been AMG and Black Collection variants, however the SL has been a grand tourer at coronary heart for many years. At this time, it’s a little bit completely different with the SL slotting in because the AMG GT Roadster’s religious successor (the precise next-generation GT will probably be a extra hardcore, track-focused coupe). Not solely does it have pretty enormous sneakers to fill, however it’s even constructed on the identical platform that the soon-to-come AMG GT Coupe is to be constructed on, giving us a glimpse as to what could be in retailer.
In equity to Mercedes and AMG, making an attempt to show the SL into each a grand tourer and a sports activities automobile in a single is a tall, if not inconceivable, activity to undertake. By advantage of its format and drivetrain setup, there’s no means that it might have the ability to match the AMG GT Roadster in sports activities automobile drama.
The AMG GT is a rear-wheel-drive, front-mid-engine automobile, that means the engine is behind the entrance axle. The brand new SL isn’t, preferring a extra conventional and customary format with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 sitting over the entrance wheels. It additionally has a tiny rear seat, pushing the 2 entrance passengers nearer to the center of the automobile. A part of the attraction in driving the AMG GT is the truth that you’re virtually sitting on the rear axle with an infinite hood out in entrance of you. Being proper over high of these two rear wheels begging for grip with that lengthy however shockingly gentle and maneuverable entrance finish (due to the front-mid-engine placement) is an undeniably particular expertise, and it’s not current within the SL.
The SL 63 can also be all-wheel-drive-only. That’s a boon for traction and acceleration instances, however don’t anticipate to take pleasure in the identical squirrely and continuously energetic rear finish of the AMG GT. As a substitute, the SL adopts a point-and-shoot angle befitting that of a rocketship grand tourer with 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It’s correctly fast. You’ll by no means battle to get the ability down. And every successive acceleration run would be the similar because the final with no drama exterior of the preliminary intestine punch on launches. There’s no denying the effectiveness of AMG’s 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system – 0-60 mph is available in 3.5 seconds – however the lack of rear-wheel drive positively subtracts from the giddiness of the entire deal.
As for the noise from this V8, it’s hanging out in that grey space between an in-your-face sports activities automobile and a refined GT automobile. The burble of that V8 sticks round on a regular basis, however by no means elevates previous the purpose of being courteous. In some ways, it’s much like a Porsche 911’s civilized nature. When unleashed, it appears like an trustworthy V8, however you’ll be able to drive alongside basically anonymity more often than not. All the outlandish noises begin emanating from its quad suggestions when you’ve gotten the engine and exhaust of their aggressive modes. Tapping up the gears of Mercedes’ multi-clutch nine-speed transmission brings reverberating claps, whereas shifting again down unleashes an array of noticeable, however not police-summoning pops. The noise is novel, however it’s all a bit too orchestrated and restrained for what we’re used to with rowdy AMG vehicles. In comparison with the AMG GT, it’s much more disappointing, because the vibrations and noises from the engine and exhaust in that automobile have been seemingly transmitted straight into your bones. If a little bit distance from the powertrain and added refinement is what you need, although, the SL has it.
Technically talking, the SL 63’s suspension is unimaginable. It’s known as AMG Energetic Journey Management, and the headline function is hydraulic, energetic anti-roll stabilization. This SL 63 — not like the SL 55 — doesn’t have conventional mechanical anti-roll bars. Energetic hydraulic components exchange them, and the result’s a system that permits for torsion bar stiffness from zero to very, very stiff. All 4 adaptive dampers are interlinked with this method to permit harmonious performance between all of the transferring elements. In the end, the objective and results of the massively advanced suspension is to supply a experience that may go from mega-luxury to racetrack stiff in fractions of a second.
To not rain on AMG’s parade, however the expertise from behind the wheel is akin to driving a automobile with GM’s MagneRide (magnetic dampers). The SL is ready to chew via horrible pavement both at pace or when slowly cruising round city as if it’s a devoted luxurious cruiser. That forgiveness within the chassis solely disappears if you pop it into Sport+ or Race mode, and an impossibly flat, shockingly stiff sports activities automobile comes out. It’s genuinely cool expertise you could really feel working simply the way it ought to. What you’ll be able to take from that is that the SL 63 is a masterclass at delivering each stupendous experience high quality and large dealing with confidence. Both character will be unleashed on the drop of a hat, and it takes near-zero effort from the driving force to understand that efficiency.
There’s a catch, nonetheless. Throughout Autoblog’s first drive of each the SL 63 and the SL 55, senior editor James Riswick discovered that the less-powerful SL with its much less subtle, however hardly rudimentary AMG Journey Management adaptive dampers delivered a comparable expertise. Importantly, it got here throughout as extra refined. When pushed back-to-back, the 63 handed extra “noise” via the steering wheel within the type of extra vibration and a few influence harshness over bumps. As he wrote then, “If we had solely pushed the 63, maybe we wouldn’t have a gripe, however we unquestionably most popular driving the SL 55.” He wasn’t alone as different journalists reported preferring the “lesser” 55.
After all, I’ve solely pushed the 63, so his evaluation proved prophetic to a level. But, it’s additionally telling that the apparently much less refined SL with a tougher edge nonetheless isn’t as rowdy because the AMG GT earlier than it. That automobile was uncomfortable and uncouth as compared. It has an edge that retains you in your toes and makes you wish to hold making an attempt your greatest to tame the beast. Plus, there’s no getting across the inherent weight stability benefit of shoving that engine into the firewall behind the entrance axle that the SL is distinctly lacking. These are causes to like the outdated AMG GT, however additionally they make it untenable to personal for folk who anticipate a standard Mercedes-Benz expertise. The SL brings these of us again into the fold.
Should you love what Mercedes has performed for the interiors of its newest flagships just like the S-Class and any of the electrical EQ fashions, you’re going to like the brand new SL, too. There isn’t a extra luxurious time available on this planet of sporty convertibles. A Porsche 911 Cabriolet or Lexus LC 500 Convertible clearly have luxurious cabins, however in typical Mercedes vogue, the SL is the top of expertise and luxury.
Two massive screens home a lot of the SL’s performance, and Mercedes took care to engineer them for a convertible software. Though the central 12.3-inch touchscreen is shared with the S-Class and different Mercedes, it may well uniquely be adjusted between a 12-degree and 32-degree incline in an effort to forestall glare — merely set it to the most effective viewing angle because the solar requires. Most Mercedes-Benz merchandise as of late function a free-standing cluster display screen, however the SL adopts an enormous hood over high of it to maintain glare away.
The one miss with this display screen setup is that it’s concerned with the highest operation. A tough button on the console brings up a display screen that means that you can swipe backwards and forwards, then maintain your finger there on the display screen to place the highest up or down — it takes 15 seconds. On a pair events, it was merely unresponsive to our instructions, which is as regarding because it sounds. Nevertheless, you can too function the highest by holding the laborious button that brings up the menu. It’s a little bit clunky, as the identical button is then used to place the highest each up and down. At the least a backup for the display screen exists however that simply speaks to how needlessly sophisticated it’s.
The elimination of wind noise and skill to remain heat within the cabin when driving in decrease temperatures makes the SL a stunning fall or early spring automobile in northern states. Mercedes is understood for its “Airscarf” heating system that retains the highest half of you toasty, and for good cause. Mixed with super-quick-to-heat seats and a heated steering wheel, top-down motoring is downright enjoyable on chilly cars-and-coffee mornings. Should you’d reasonably cruise round with the highest up, Mercedes’ three-layer comfortable high is insulated effectively. A hardtop would maybe be quieter, however the weight financial savings and decrease heart of gravity from utilizing a comfortable high is appreciated.
What finally makes the SL laborious to like is each an impossible-to-shake comparability to the AMG GT and its reasonably medical tackle excessive efficiency. There’s little question the SL 63 is a extremely succesful convertible sports activities automobile, however the drama and sense of event that usually comes as commonplace gear with AMG vehicles merely isn’t there. It’s almost excellent if the objective is to easily have a standout luxurious convertible that goes like stink. In terms of driver involvement and smiles per gallon, although, that’s the place the SL comes up brief.
A Porsche 911 Cabriolet or Targa in just about any model — which additionally has a rear seat — goes to hit on all the marks this SL misses on, and the penalty for luxurious options will be largely negated with Porsche’s in depth choices listing. Plus, the SL 63’s extravagant worth — $205,135 as examined implies that if it’s within the finances, so is a 911 Turbo. All that mentioned, the SL’s styling would possibly simply do sufficient to make up for anything. Few vehicles on this planet, at any worth, will make folks cease and stare like the brand new SL will, and that proper there might be all of the distinction.
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