The key to the new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ Roadster carries impressive weight. It’s a weight born of heritage, pedigree and expectation.

The new model represents the seventh generation of the SL since the famed automotive badge made its debut – first in 1952 as a racing car, and then in 1954 as the iconic 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ road car.

As the first model in the series to be developed by Mercedes-AMG, the AMG SL 63 Roadster captures the spirit of the legends that have come before it whilst delivering a contemporary and forward-looking aesthetic and experience. It is a car for now and tomorrow, one that carries the surety and strength of character that only heritage can bring.

A genuine sports car

For this seventh-generation SL, Mercedes-AMG has reverted to a folding soft-top design and reintroduced a practical 2+2 cabin. The overall aesthetic, however, is one of a genuine sports car.

The interior engages the senses with material choice, technology and craftsmanship – not to mention the 650-Watt, 11-speaker Burmester surround sound system and latest-generation MBUX multi-media operating system.

Beneath the long and power-domed bonnet beats the heart of the SL experience, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 built to Mercedes-AMG’s ‘one man, one engine’ policy. Producing 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque, the engine fires with a promise of what’s to come, injecting the car with a sense of character. Dive in to the full well of power and the AMG SL 63 Roadster delivers an uncommon level of performance – 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 315km/h.

Next-generation performance

The outputs of the engine are harnessed by the smooth-shifting nine-speed Speedshift MCT 9G transmission and – for the first time in SL history – the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system. The latter combines with sophisticated traction and stability control systems to ensure a safe, smooth and engaging drive regardless of the road and weather conditions.

Like all great cars, the AMG SL 63 Roadster draws you into the process of driving, boasting a cohesive and linear relationship between the drivetrain, steering, brakes and chassis.
 

The steering is alert and combines with the active rear-axle steering to generate both agility and stability from the chassis, while the AMG Active Ride Control suspension offers multiple modes to suit various road conditions and driving styles. Ride quality and body control might be diametrically opposed engineering targets, but the AMG SL 63 Roadster manages to deliver at both ends of the spectrum.

Dropping the soft-top in just 15 seconds (and at speeds of up to 60km/h) further enhances the sense of engagement with the new AMG SL 63 Roadster. Under cloudless spring skies and gentle sunshine, there’s no better way to appreciate the vocals from the characterful V8.

There’s a duality to the new AMG SL 63 Roadster that has been present in the legendary SL models that have preceded it – but the bandwidth has expanded in both directions for the new generation. It has the dynamic ability and latent performance potential to offer supercar levels of engagement, but with a sense of calm and serenity.

Building on its seven-decade heritage, the new AMG SL 63 Roadster captures the essence of the model’s history and establishes its own forward-looking identity.

Take a closer look at the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4MATIC+ Roadster.