This PHEV Mercedes-AMG drop-top with 816 horsepower lands over here with a price tag of RM 2,168,888.
The most powerful SL ever has officially landed over here, and it claims that title thanks to a little help from some electrical assistance. Meet the new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance, which can be yours from an eye-watering RM 2,168,888 (duties mercifully included).
Packing a combined 816 hp and an earth-bending 1,420 Nm of torque from its AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and rear-axle electric motor, this AMG SL is the fifth model to feature Affalterbach’s F1-inspired E PERFORMANCE technology. And it’s actually F1-fast too, with this droptop claimed by its maker to go from 0–100 km/h in a scarcely believable 2.9 seconds, before eventually maxing out at a dizzying 317 km/h.
Feeding the electric motor is a 6.1 kWh high-performance battery, developed with inspiration from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 hybrid systems. The SL 63 S E Performance has been touted by its maker to enable true one-pedal driving and can regenerate over 100 kW of energy under braking. What’s less widely advertised, however, is that its all-electric range is limited to just 13 km.
Interestingly too, the SL 63 S E Performance features two separate gearboxes: a conventional 9-speed automatic for the V8 and a 2-speed unit for the electric motor… and this goes some way toward explaining why this roadster tips the scales at a hefty 2.3 tonnes.
In any case, AMG’s performance credentials remain firmly intact. The SL comes armed with AMG ceramic high-performance composite brakes, featuring massive 420 mm front discs with six-piston bronze calipers, backed by 380 mm rear rotors. Also standard are active rear-axle steering, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and AMG Active Ride Control with active roll stabilisation.
On the outside, this latest SL is also the first since the Sacco-era R129 to feature four seats and a cloth top, which opens in just 15 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 60 km/h. It’s also the most curvaceous SL in history, with a wide AMG grille and power domes adding further aggression to this sporty cabriolet.
At the sides, the SL wears 21-inch 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, while its rather round rump plays host to an active spoiler that adjusts through five distinct positions based on speed and drive mode. Beneath it, a patented underbody carbon aero element drops by 40 mm at 80 km/h, improving airflow and reducing lift.
Step inside, and the SL delivers a predictable lap of luxury. AMG Performance front seats with integrated headrests, three massage programmes, and seat-back ventilation come wrapped in diamond-quilted Manufaktur Nappa leather. Meanwhile, the portrait-format central touchscreen, gloss-framed and mounted low between turbine-style air vents, runs the latest MBUX infotainment system with AMG and hybrid-specific displays.
Eight drive modes via AMG DYNAMIC SELECT let you transform the car’s character on the fly. “Electric” and “Battery Hold” modes manage hybrid behaviour, while “Comfort” and “Smoothness” soften the car’s responses for daily use. Dial it up to “Sport+” or “RACE,” and the throttle sharpens, suspension firms up, and the exhaust note deepens into a proper AMG growl. Even the startup routine has been engineered for drama: a pulse of sound flows through the cabin to let you know the system is live, even if it begins silently in EV mode.
Incidentally, for those who prefer their V8 burble uncensored and don’t mind a hard top, Mercedes has recently also brought in the fully petrol-powered Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupe. And best of all with that one, it’s something of a steal by comparison, being priced from just RM 1.8 million.
