Mercedes-amg SL 63

Firebreathing twin-turbo V8 roadster storms into UK

WE drove the facelifted Mercedes SL in the UK back in May (Issue 1,422). The V8-powered SL 500 is the mainstay of the roadster range, and has featured in the line-up in one form or another for more than three decades. However, if 4.7 litres and 449bhp aren’t quite enough for you, you’ll want to know how the firebreathing Amgfettled SL 63 fares on British roads.

On paper, the sizeable power jump to 577bhp seems somewhat trivial when all it appears to offer is a marginal gain in acceleration (0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, versus 4.3 seconds for the SL 500) and an identical top speed. But in reality, the SL 63 is a totally different beast.

Mercedes will tell you that while the SL 500 is the cruiser, the AMG SL 63 is the sports car. The power of this drop-top surpasses the brand’s own 503bhp AMG GT S supercar. But on the road, the three cars couldn’t be more different. The SL 63 has always been a bit of a bruiser, and these modifications do little to change that.

Switching off all the driver aids and flooring the throttle will result in clouds of blue smoke as the rear wheels struggle for traction. With a more gentle touch, the huge tyres dig into the tarmac and fire you down the road with a suitably pleasing howl from the accompanying twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. It’s a similar story in the corners, where it’s all too easy to light up the rear rubber with careless throttle application. It’s secure enough with all the systems switched on, though.

Lower the roof and that addictive soundtrack will leave your ears ringing. The exhaust pops and bangs on the over-run, while the quick-shifting seven-speed MCT box allows rapid multiple changes. Select a lower gear on the approach to a tight bend and the V8 will growl as the revs crescendo.

The steering is a little light for our liking and a little vague around the straight-ahead. On faster, wider curves, the SL is perfectly

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