Autoblog

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

Michael Harley — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, First Drives, Luxury

Affalterbach Additions Transform Benz's Heavy-Hitting Droptop

Saint-Tropez is a charming town in southeastern France nestled along the Mediterranean Sea. Internationally recognized as a summer playground for the wealthy and famous, it is also famed for its "clothing optional" beaches where more than just noses and shoulders get burned in hot weather. While still a couple months shy of warm weather and the influx of tourists, Mercedes-Benz chose to get an early start on the topless party by flying us to the Côte d'Azur for some seat time in its newest high-performance droptop, the 2013 SL63 AMG Roadster.

Our first taste of the new SL-Class was behind the wheel of the standard SL550 in Spain less than two months ago. The two-seater impressed us with its stout chassis, strong engine and lavish appointments - but it failed to stir our emotions. The base SL long ago steered away from being a driver's car, and its latest incarnation proved no different. It was, in effect, just a very capable and posh GT.

But the SL63 AMG, boasting upwards of 557 horsepower thanks to a burly twin-turbocharged V8, still seems promising. Its luxury appointments are nearly identical, yet it wears AMG attire and its entire powertrain has been upgraded to appease warm-blooded automotive enthusiasts. Do fresh duds and a new muscular system make a more compelling athlete? We roughed in the French Riviera to find out.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG is big and beastly, not so beautiful

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz

We'll come right out and say it: The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL isn't exactly pretty. And while this new SL63 adds all of the go-fast appearance bits befitting any AMG model, it doesn't exactly help the big roadster's appearance. And by the way, when we say big, we mean big. The photos don't quite do it justice - this is one seriously large two-seater.

Large and in charge as it may be, the 2013 SL63 AMG is actually far prettier beneath the skin. For one thing, it's 275 pounds lighter than the model it replaces, thanks largely to the use of high-strength but lightweight aluminum parts. Even so, this bad boy tips the scales at just over 4,050 pounds, but never fear - there's one heck of a powerplant underhood to get this grandaddy moving with a quickness.

Just like the entire new crop of AMG products, the SL63 uses Merc's twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter M157 V8, good for 530 horsepower and 593 pound-feet of torque. Tick the box for the optional AMG Performance Package and those numbers increase to 557 and 664(!) respectively. With that additional grunt, the SL63 will shoot to 60 miles per hour in just 4.1 seconds (4.2 without the Performance Pack), on its way to relaxed top speed of 186 miles per hour (non PP-equipped models top out at 155).

Glorious as it all sounds, we still can't get past the fact that the once-timelessly beautiful SL continues to get uglier and uglier with each new generation. Sigh. See for yourself in the attached high-res image galleries.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG is big and beastly, not so beautiful

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG is big and beastly, not so beautiful originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More photos and info on the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

If you like lighter, faster, and more powerful then you have at least two things to like about the new Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG. It gets a 537-horsepower, 590-pound-foot version of the M571 twin-turbo V8 making the rounds in AMG vehicles, but that can be bumped to 564 hp and 664 lb-ft with the AMG Performance Package.

All of that thrust works on a car that is 125 kilograms lighter than the last generation, having lost 120 kg through the use of an aluminum bodyshell and another five kg with trunk formed of carbon fiber and plastic. The result is a zero to 100 kph run of 4.2 seconds with the extra juice, and onto 200 kph in 12.6 seconds.

Handling is sharpened with an evolution of the Active Body Control, three-state ESP a la the SLS AMG, as well as an optional AMG rear axle differential lock and AMG performance suspension.

Head past the jump for all the details on the matter and a video, and we've added a bunch more photos to our high-res gallery. We'll have even more to say about it when we see it at the Geneva Motor Show.

Continue reading More photos and info on the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video]

More photos and info on the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury, Racing

Any outfit with the cash can buy a Formula One team. Integrating it into an existing automaker, however, isn't an overnight proposition. Both Lotus and Caterham are currently undergoing that process, but so is Mercedes-Benz.

The German automaker bought out what was then the World Champion Brawn GP team (previously known as Honda and before that, as British American Racing) a couple of years ago as a standalone racing team, and has been bringing it into the corporate fold ever since. This year, the team previously known as Mercedes GP has been rebranded as Mercedes AMG (as was the division that produces its F1 engines). To drive the point home, the company's broadened performance arm launched two very different cars under the same banner in Barcelona this week.

The main event is W03, the new single-seater that Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be driving in the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Bound to the same new set of regulations as the other teams, the new Mercedes AMG W03 shares some of the same traits as the rest of the field - most notably the stepped nose section that Mercedes' PR team cleverly calls "distinctive." Since engine development remains frozen pending the launch of the new turbo six, the W03 is powered by the same FO108Z engine - all 2.4 liters and eight cylinders of it - as last year's car, and for that matter the latest McLaren and Force India challengers are, too.

While Daimler was at it, though, it has taken the opportunity to show off its new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Roadster for the first time. Based on the SL-Class that debuted just two months ago at the Detroit Auto Show, the SL63 packs AMG's fast-becoming-ubiquitous M157 twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 with 529 horsepower, but unburdened of 242 pounds of excess weight from the outgoing model (thanks primarily to the widespread use of aluminum and magnesium where the last model was made of steel), the new SL63 AMG can rocket from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds (4.2 with the optional AMG Performance Package) while returning 30 percent better fuel economy.

Check out our high-res galleries of both open-top Three-Pointed Stars and hop through to the jump to see some videos.

Continue reading Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos]

Mercedes AMG launches new SL63 with W03 F1 car in Barcelona [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG in America to be auctioned off at Boca concours

Noah Joseph — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Auctions, Audi, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, Misc. Auto Shows

Of all the car shows around the calendar year, the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance doesn't typically fall on our radar screen. But maybe it should, because the annual event in Florida - young as it is - has a history of offering firsts. Maybe not the first time a vehicle is seen in North America, mind you, but a first just the same.

Last year the event included the sale of the first examples of the Ferrari FF, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster and Audi R8 GT to be delivered in America. The year before that, it was the Audi R8 5.2 FSI (yeah, that's the one with the V10) and Ferrari California. And before that, the event's auctioneers sold off the first Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Italia and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

Noticing a pattern here? Organizers have no intention of dropping the ball this year, when they'll be auctioning off the first U.S. deliveries of the new Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG. Now if you're thinking that we haven't even seen the new SL63 AMG yet, you're absolutely right. The new SL itself has been shown, but not the AMG version, which is expected to pack Affalterbach's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 with 571 horsepower on tap. Once the car has been unveiled and deliveries commence, the winner of the auction is guaranteed to be the first to get one in the United States.

As if that's not enough, there will also be an Audi R8 GT Spyder - one of only 50 slated for production and the only one in red to be made available in the U.S. - as well as a Lamborghini Aventador and a whole mess of special-edition Shelby muscle cars, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Follow the link for more info, or head down on February 25th to see the bidding frenzy at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.

First Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG in America to be auctioned off at Boca concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class action lawsuit to be filed against Mercedes alleges AMG V8 defects

Zach Bowman — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Government/Legal, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly facing a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey for alleged defects in the company's M156 V8. According to the plaintiffs, premature internal wear occurs because the engine uses cast nodular iron camshafts and 9310-grade steel valves. Something about that combination causes early failure, either due to improper offset of the components or inadequate heat treating. The plaintiffs also allege that Mercedes-Benz and AMG have known about the issue since 2007, when Daimler released a service bulletin on the problem. At this point, it's unclear how many engines this alleged defect covers, or exactly when or if the lawsuit will go to trial.

The M156 V8 - one of the snarliest and best-sounding engines we've ever driven - has served as the powerhouse for a wide range of AMG vehicles. The 6.3-liter lump actually displaces 6.2 liters, but churns out 525 horsepower in its newest iteration. The engine has found its way into vehicles like the C63 AMG, E63 AMG, ML63 AMG and SL63 AMG, among others. Head over to BenzBoost for a look at the full lawsuit.

Class action lawsuit to be filed against Mercedes alleges AMG V8 defects originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Mercedes SL63 AMG beefs up

Zach Bowman — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, take a look-see at what our intrepid band of spy photographers have just netted. Apparently, the go-fast gurus at AMG have been hard at work on a bevy of new Mercedes-Benz goodies, including the car you see above. Underneath all of that cladding lurks the next-generation SL63 AMG. Even with all of the plastic obscuring its bodywork, it's clear that the engineers intend for the folding hardtop convertible to have some healthy air intakes in the front fascia. Why? We're guessing it has something to do with the manhole-cover sized front brakes on this mule. Take a close look at the front stoppers and you'll see six-pot calipers squeezing on cross-drilled rotors.

That's probably a good thing considering that from what we understand, the SL63 AMG is slated to pack 571 galloping horsepower from a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8. Something tells us we're going to need those galactic brakes to bring this thing to a stop. Word has it that an AMG Speedshift seven-speed gearbox will provide shifting duties, too. Sounds like a tasty piece of heavyweight German engineering to us.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG Spy Photos

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Mercedes SL63 AMG beefs up originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock

Chris Paukert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock - Click above for high-res image gallery

The world's sickly economy not withstanding, selling luxury vehicles is easy. From the suppleness of a swatch of leather to the exquisite graining on a piece of rare wood veneer to having every electronic gewgaw available at one's fingertips, what defines a luxury car is essentially self-evident. To a substantial degree, everyone knows quality and true luxury when they see and feel it. The same cannot be so easily said when it comes to matters of high performance.

Selling luxury may be easy, but as AMG has figured out, selling high-performance is a heck of a lot more fun.

As one of the globe's premiere aspirational brands, Mercedes-Benz would appear to have the luxury selling routine knocked. But the company's AMG performance division has become an increasingly prominent part of its portfolio and bottom line, and these vehicles attract a different sort of customer and require a different marketing approach. Thankfully, as AMG has become increasingly important to Mercedes, its product line has risen in quality and dynamic performance. But while luxury and quality are easily conveyed, how do you sell four-wheeled thrills?

The thing is, as an automotive marketer, you can preach how great your sports car is until you're blue in the face, but until you're able to really show people how superior your vehicle is, you're never going to win them all over. And if you're like AMG, your offerings have become way too fast and capable to be safely exploited on public roads. So what's Mercedes to do? Why, give current and potential owners the chance to explore the dynamic limits of both their automobiles and themselves in a fun, legal, educational, and most importantly, safe environment. Enter the AMG Driving Academy.

Mercedes has offered its AMG driving program overseas for some time now, but this year is the first time they've brought the experience to the States. With events at Connecticut's storied Lime Rock Park, Florida's Palm Beach International Raceway, and California's legendary Laguna Seca, the venues Mercedes has chosen are certainly top-notch. But what about the experience? We had to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock Park

Continue reading Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock

Drop the Hammer: Getting schooled with AMG Driving Academy at Lime Rock originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Mercedes SL63 AMG and SL600

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG - Click above for high-res gallery

Finding the ideal luxury sports car is a Goldilocks proposition: cars that fulfill either descriptive - luxury or sports - are piled high as Annapurna. For instance, the Ferrari F430 is a luxurious sports car, but it's not a luxury car. The current CL63 is a sporty luxury car, but it's not a sports car. Try to find a conveyance in which the little girl with the golden locks would sigh "This one is just right" - a car that has the sporting reflexes to keep her heart beating and a cabin supple enough for her to unwind in when the twisties are finished - and you see the field is disturbingly minuscule. Against all odds, the SL63 is that car: Goldilocks' Golden Mean. Follow the jump to find out how and why, and check out the gallery of high-res images below.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

Continue reading Review: 2009 Mercedes SL63 AMG and SL600

Review: 2009 Mercedes SL63 AMG and SL600 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils 2009 SL63 and SL65 AMG

Alex Nunez — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:11:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz

Click image for photo gallery

As expected, the advent of a new SL also brings with it the arrival of a new AMG variant. Gone is the supercharged, 510-horsepower SL55 AMG. In its place, we welcome the new SL63 AMG, which uses AMG's naturally-aspirated 6.2L V8 making 538 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Like its standard-grade siblings, the new AMG SL is restyled, featuring a new-look fascia, side gills and revised rump. AMG-specific elements like a unique hood, a full aero kit, wheels that look lifted from a Porsche 911 Turbo, and all the requisite badging are also included. Inside, leather and carbon fiber adorn the cockpit, which is also outfitted with the usual assortment of electro-gadgetry, including Bluetooth connectivity that'll work with any phone so enabled.

The big news with the new SL63 is the addition of Mercedes' seven-speed twin-clutch SpeedShift MCT (Multi-Clutch Transmission) with four drive modes. Shifts with the MCT are promised to be smoother, faster and more fun overall than before. Fun's good. An optional performance package adds party favors like ceramic front brake discs, an AMG-enhanced version of the Active Body Control system, unequal-width front and rear tires, a limited-slip rear differential, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with metal shift paddles, and the AIRSCARF neck warmer system.

If the 538 horses of the SL63 aren't enough, or if you're just hell-bent on winning the numerological pissing contest in your law firm's parking garage, Mercedes also brings back the SL65 AMG, whose turbocharged V12 cranks out 604 horsepower and a BRABUS-like 738 lb-ft of torque. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but rest assured, it'll be up there.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG & SL65 AMG

Continue reading Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils 2009 SL63 and SL65 AMG

Officially Official: Mercedes-Benz unveils 2009 SL63 and SL65 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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