2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG - What the Auto Press Says
The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 is a powerful and luxurious work of art.
Model Overview
The SL63 AMG is a performance-tuned variant of the Mercedes-Benz SL, which ranks high in the super luxury sports car class for its powerful engine, comfortable handling dynamics and elegant finish both inside and out. Reviewers find that the SL's only downside is that competitors are more aggressive. The SL63, however, changes that. Tuned by AMG for high-performance driving, it builds on the appeal of the very impressive SL. Motor Trend writes: "Even in basic form, the hardtop convertible is a most capable sports car that loses none of its appeal when subjected to the stresses of the track. This is a quality shared by just a few other cars and assures the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG its proper place at the head of a long lineage of exceptional roadsters."
The 2009 SL63 AMG features a 518-horsepower V8 engine mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.
- "The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG is a fantasy. Driving one propels you into a world where money is just that stuff that keeps overflowing your various bank accounts. I was ready to buy a monocle after one day of cruising around in it." -- Detroit News
- "The SL63 is a terrific car. It makes one wonder why anyone would want the more expensive SL65 AMG, at $190,575, over this $133,000 model. Come to think of it, unless posing on Rodeo Drive is your bag, we rather prefer this car to the Mercedes SLR McLaren roadster, which costs four times as much." -- Car and Driver
The Bottom Line
If you're in the market for a ridiculously powerful and aggressive roadster, the 518-horsepower SL63 AMG makes a great choice. For an estimated $60K more than the price of the SL63, Mercedes-Benz also offers a 604-horsepower SL65 AMG. That, however, is superfluous and more about extreme exclusivity than anything else. The SL63 is more than enough to satisfy most drivers' luxury and performance needs.
Performance Dynamics
Test drivers report that the 2009 SL63 AMG is an amazing performer -- with plenty of power, speed, agility and throttle noise to intimidate its high-performance super luxury competitors.
The SL63 AMG features a 6.3-liter V8 engine that produces 518 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 465 pound-feet of torque at 5,200 rpm. An AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS seven-speed automatic transmission is standard. According to Mercedes-Benz, the SL63 AMG has a top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The EPA reports that it nets a city/highway fuel economy of 12/19 mpg.
The rear-wheel drive SL63 AMG features rack-and-pinion power steering and a sports suspension system with Active Body Control (ABC). Also standard is a high-performance AMG braking system with anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist, and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) that enhances stability in adverse driving conditions by selectively applying brakes and reducing engine torque.
- "[T]he SL63's most striking element is the hand-assembled V-8's roar, passing relatively unfiltered through an exhaust system that sounds as if it were stolen from AMG's race shop. Time and again we run up the revs and lift off the throttle just to revel in the exhaust's deep baritone burble on overrun." -- Motor Trend
- "You'd also be hard-pressed to find a more stirring exhaust note anywhere, tuned just perfectly by AMG engineers to 'come on song' at higher rpm - it'll wake up Granny, that's for sure! And the throttle blips when downshifting the terrific new 7-speed MCT (Multi-Clutch Technology) transmission, which uses an 8-plate clutch pack instead of a torque converter, send shivers down your spine." -- Road and Track
- "Despite the massive power, the rear-wheel drive roadster feels nimble, thanks to years of German technicians perfecting their automotive prowess." -- Detroit News
- "The new SL63 AMG offers the best combination of power and handling. It is a meaner version of the SL550 in terms of power and is even better when it comes to handling." -- New Car Test Drive
- "Set for comfort, the SL63 is a fine, quick cruiser. With the faster shift settings, the sport ABC mode, and the stability control turned off, the SL does a passable imitation of a serious sports car, especially with the performance package. During hard laps at the Paul Ricard track in southern France, the car was fast and fun, with strong brakes, plenty of grip, and well-balanced handling. Be brave with the throttle, and the tail dances controllably." -- Car and Driver
