Latest news with #SL63
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 confirmed for South Africa
Spiritual successor of the 300 SL, the all-new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 has now been confirmed for South Africa and will cost local buyers a shade under R4m. Here is what you will get for their money. Looking for a new or used Mercedes-Benz? Find It here with CARmag! Mercedes-AMG has revived the legendary SL nameplate in what it calls its most performance-focused form yet. The new Mercedes-AMG SL 63 marks a return to the model's 300 SL roots and reintroduces a classic soft top and a purist 2+2 layout. This latest iteration of the storied moniker has been developed entirely in Affalterbach by Mercedes-AMG, with a bespoke platform and architecture that shares no components with its predecessors or other models in the Mercedes-Benz line-up. Most importantly, the V8 lives on here… Related: 2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Lands in Mzansi – Pricing and Specs Speaking of which, the beating heart of the SL 63 is AMG's 4l V8 biturbo engine which continues the tradition of being hand-assembled under AMG's 'One Man, One Engine' philosophy. Producing 430kW and 800Nm, it launches the roadster from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 315km/h. The engine benefits from extensive refinement, including revised intercoolers, active crankcase ventilation, and enhanced exhaust gas flow for improved performance and efficiency. Power is channelled through a nine-speed automatic transmission, which uses a wet start-off clutch instead of a torque converter for sharper response and quicker shifts. For the first time in SL history, all-wheel drive comes standard, with AMG Performance 4Matic+ distributing power to all corners while active rear-axle steering is said to enhance agility at lower speeds and stability at higher ones. Related: The Six Cylinder E53 Mercedes-AMG is Coming to SA in 2025 Harking back to its 1950s forebear, the SL 63 retains a long bonnet, with a wide stance and short overhangs. The fabric soft top, which replaces the heavier metal vario roof of recent SLs, weighs 21kg less and folds away in just 15 seconds at speeds of up to 60km/h. When its down, a better look inside shows the 'hyperanalogue' cockpit. The fully digital instrument cluster is housed in a three-dimensional visor, while the central touchscreen can be adjusted for better visibility with the roof down. AMG sports seats come standard, featuring integrated headrests and the brand's signature Airscarf system, which blows warm air around the neck and shoulders. Outfitted with a plethora of aerodynamic tech, the two-stage Airpanel system controls airflow through vertical and horizontal louvres to improve cooling and reduce lift, while the deployable rear spoiler adjusts its position based on speed and driving dynamics. The optional active front underbody element extends at 80km/h to create a Venturi effect, further enhancing stability. Combined with a choice of aerodynamically optimised 19-, 20-, or 21-inch wheels, Mercedes-AMG state these features give the SL exceptional composure and responsiveness. Mercedes-AMG SL 63 pricing Mercedes-AMG SL 63 – R 3 943 156 Total Price includes VAT incl and five-year/100 000km PremiumDrive Comfort Care Service and Maintenance Plan. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Confirmed for South Africa – Pricing and Spec appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Mercedes-AMG GT63 knocks Porsche 911 GT2 RS from its perch
600kW beast from Affalterbach clocks a new 0-100km/h record time of 2.76 seconds. A plan was hatched. A team of the best of the best from the AMG Driving Academy, three half-decent driver/journalists, and an invaluable backup crew were going to invade Knysna with the latest in high performance Mercedes-AMG toys to attack the Simola Hillclimb with one goal in mind. Bring home the standard production road car, 2025 King of the Hill, title. Nothing less than a win would do. And win they did, the fastest standard production road car up the hill this year was none other than AMG Driving Academy boss, Clint Weston, in the new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe. But the team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were not done. They were looking for more silverware for their trophy cabinet. One call later and the car that was fastest up the hill was on its way to Gerotek to see if it could become the fastest standard production road car The Citizen Motoring has ever tested in a straight line. Gunning for Porsche's crown To earn this title, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe, would have to better Porsche's 911 GT2 RS' record-breaking run of 2.85 seconds to 100km/h that was achieved in 2021. A quick technical refresher. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS weighs in at only 1 470kg, and produces a crazy 515kW and 750Nm from its 3.8-litre flat six, bi-turbo set-up. This means this out and out super car has a mental power-to-weight ratio of 350kW per ton. ALSO READ: Eight-cylinders return as Mercedes-AMG prices long awaited SL 63 Producing a combined 600kW of power and 1 420Nm of torque from its 4.0-litre V8 bi-turbo engine that is coupled to an AMG Electric Drive Unit, the claimed 0-100km/h number for the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is listed as 2.8 seconds. And no Affalterbach series model has ever gone that quick before. Only one other car tested by our publication in over 25-years of road testing has gone under the three-second mark. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-Door ran a time of 2.96 seconds. Ready to roll. Picture: Mark Jones Acid test for Mercedes-AMG GT63 Despite being down 20kW and 50Nm, the Coupe derivative has lost two doors and 185kg of weight over its four-door sibling. The team from Mercedes-Benz South Africa were confident their new car could get the job done. But the first issue to contend with is that this AMG GT 63 Coupe still comes off the scales an almost incomprehensible 725kg heavier than the GT2 RS. But talk and claims are cheap, it's what happens on the day that counts. Driving the car out to Gerotek left me in no doubt that this GT 63 S E Performance Coupe was the real deal and had a proper chance of bettering the 911 GT2 RS. But even though I have been doing this a very long time, there is no way I could off the cuff say that the Merc was going to be quicker than the Porsche. 2.85-seconds to 100km/h is seriously fast. With anticipation building, the Racelogic VBOX test equipment was loaded into the car and it was time to head down to the start line. ALSO READ: VIDEO: New Mercedes-AMG C63 pips BMW M3 on the drag strip Getting down to business Race Start activated, foot on the brake, mash the accelerator pedal, and let go. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe bolts off the line like its tail has just been stood on. Shrubbery, grass and tar merge into a blur as the speedo goes past 270km/h before I get on the carbon ceramic brakes at the 800m mark. Heart pounding, adrenalin rushing, the VBOX readout shows 2.86 seconds. We haven't done it. It goes a bit quiet, we know we will do more runs. But all these super high-performance cars get hot under the hood quickly, and the numbers can go the other way. Is it over? Back down to the start I go. Cut and paste the start procedure. Back on the brakes at the end. And as I roll into the pit area. It goes off like a cracker, we have a number of 2.84 seconds on the VBOX. It is done. The GT 63 S E Performance Coupe has just become the fastest standard production road car we have ever tested. Albeit by a whisker. But a whisker is all that is needed for the record books. ALSO READ: Learjet for the road Mercedes-AMG S63 shocks-up a luxury storm Point proven Obviously, we wanted to back this up, the Porsche did, so it was back down to the start again where things only got better as the tyres warmed up a little with all this winter cold around. A 2.82-second run was next, then a 2.78 and then 2.76. Were we going to see the records continue to tumble? There is a new boss in time. Picture: Mark Jones The short answer was no. The temps under the bonnet were now coming into play and the times started going back up. But I kid you not, the car did five runs in a row after this at 2.84-seconds. And that's when we decided we had proved our point. We were tempting fate by barrelling into the braking zone over and over again at 270km/h. So, there you have it, the GT 63 S E Performance Coupe is the fastest standard production we have tested. The Porsche 911 GT2 RS does come back at it as we head further down the long straight at Gerotek, and it remains a do-or-die battle right till the end, but there can only be one King. Mercedes-AMG GT 63 tests data
TimesLIVE
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
New Mercedes-AMG SL 63 lands in South Africa
The latest Mercedes-AMG SL 63 has arrived in South Africa, slotting in between the SL 43 and the flagship SL 63 E Performance in the marque's 2+2-seater roadster line-up. With its distinctive long bonnet, aggressively raked windscreen, short rear deck and compact overhangs, the SL 63 cuts a commanding figure that oozes presence. Lightweight 20" alloy wheels come standard, while 21" rims are available as an option. While the German drop top's menacing front end sports the firm's aero-enhancing Airpanel active air control system, the rear is fitted with a retractable rear spoiler with five different angle settings designed to either optimise handling stability or reduce drag. As with the SL 43, the SL 63 features an electronically operated folding fabric roof, which opens or closes in 15 seconds at speeds of up to 60km/h. It's also 21kg lighter than the previous-generation metal vario-roof, contributing to a lower centre of gravity. Powering the SL 63 is a 4.0 l twin-turbocharged V8 engine pumping out 430kW and 800Nm of torque. Sent to all four paws via a variable 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system and AMG Speedshift MCT 9G transmission, Affalterbach's BMW M8 Convertible rival will scorch its way from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 315km/h. Complementing this straight-line shove is a capable chassis featuring a multi-link front axle with five links arranged within the rim. A similar design is found at the rear. Both ends of the SL 63 benefit from a newly developed AMG Active Ride Control suspension, while rear axle steering boosts low-speed manoeuvrability and high-speed stability. Drivers can cycle through six AMG Dynamic Select drive modes — Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Race — using either the centre console controls or the AMG steering wheel toggles. Each mode alters the behaviour of the powertrain, transmission, steering, suspension and exhaust. Inside, the SL 63 is generously equipped. Highlights include a 12.3" digital instrument cluster, an 11.9" MBUX infotainment display on the centre console and support for the brand's AMG Performance and Track Pace apps, which allow drivers to log lap and performance data. Standard luxury features include Nappa leather seats, carbon fibre interior trim, Airscarf neck warmers, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, an AMG Performance multifunction steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep and steering assist. Pricing for the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 starts at R3,943,156, inclusive of a five-year/100,000km service and maintenance plan.
The Citizen
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Eight-cylinders return as Mercedes-AMG prices long awaited SL 63
Soft-top sibling of the AMG GT will still get from 0-100 km/h in four seconds and hit a top sped of 315 km/h. Mercedes-AMG has finally added to the SL63 to its line-up in South Africa. Image: Mercedes-AMG Its line-up having remained stagnent since the arrival of the four-cylinder '43' almost two years ago, Mercedes-AMG has finally confirmed pricing of the '63' variant of the new SL. No electric assistance Shown as far back as 2021, the first ever AMG-developed SL sits opposite the coupe-only AMG GT as being offered solely with a fabric roof-top roof that opens and closes in a Z-pattern in 15 seconds at up to 60 km/h. ALSO READ: Modernised Mercedes SL43 lives up to its proud heritage Known internally as the R232, the first new SL since the R231 that stayed in production from 2012 to 2021 also becomes the first to offer the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive, which until now, hasn't been applicable to South Africa as the mentioned '43' only comes with rear-wheel-drive. Despite the availability of the entry-level eight-cylinder SL 55 and the range-topping plug-in hybrid SL 63 S revealed at the end of 2023, the mid-spec SL 63 will for now top the local range with outputs of 430kW/800Nm from its non-electrically assisted 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8. Fabric roof opens and closes in 15 seconds up to 60 km/h. Image: Mercedes-AMG Paired to the nine-speed MCT transmission, with the 4Matic+ system sending the amount of twist to all four corners, the SL 63 will get from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and a hit top speed of 315 km/h. Spec As in Europe, South African models have the option of alloy wheels ranging from 19 to 21-inches, although in a departure, the rear-axle steering system has been fitted as standard and not as an option. Also included are the Digital LED headlights, the Airscarf neck warmers integrated into the headrests of the front seats, the adaptive Active Ride Control dampers and the electronic limited slip differential. In total, the AMG Dynamic Select system offers six modes; Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and a first-time Race mode not available on the SL 43 or the SL 55. Bar the obvious move to right-hand-drive, the interior has not been changed from the depicted European-market model. Image: Mercedes-AMG As part of the optional AMG Dynamic Plus package, buyers get more engine mounts, yellow AMG branded brake calipers, a ride height drop of 10 mm and carbon fibre exterior trim. Inside, no specification differences from the European SL have taken place, meaning the retention of the 11.9-inch MBUX infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the new AMG Performance steering wheel and, as an option, the AMG Performance seats. Price Priced from R3 943 156, the SL 63's sticker includes a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan as standard. NOW READ: All-new AMG developed Mercedes-Benz SL revealed
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Shifting Focus to the Driver: 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680 Monogram Series Driven
For those of us whose splurges tend to be more outlet mall than oceanfront property, it can be hard to imagine a world where the regular old $188K Mercedes-AMG SL63 isn't a posh-enough droptop to demonstrate one's status. It's got an adjustable center screen, massaging seats, and Airscarf vents in the headrests. What else do you need, rose-gold details and a monogrammed hood? According to Mercedes-Maybach, which operates in a realm where the yachts have yachts and it's superfluous to say "private" before "island," the answer is yes, you need those precise things and more. The latest addition to its fleet of floaty, two-tone VIP carriers is the 2026 Mercedes-Maybach SL680, which offers everything we didn't realize was missing from the SL63. Namely, monograms. It's a surprising choice to add a two-seat sports-car option to the long wheelbases and reclining rear seats of the current Maybach lineup, which has S-class, EQS, and GLS versions. Maybach is associated with high-end limousine service and chauffeured transport, making the SL an unexpected model in the lineup. Daniel Lescow, head of Mercedes-Maybach, says the decision to add a car more suited for self-driving (in the old-fashioned sense, not the autonomous one) came directly from customer feedback. The interest is there, Lescow says, and Maybach exists to meet the desires of the hoi oligoi. In this case, Maybach soothed the savage beast of the AMG SL with a softened suspension, more sound deadening, and a dialed-back performance tune while amping up the visual impact with two-tone paint schemes and Maybach-specific design elements. The drivetrain remains physically unchanged from the nonhybrid SL63. It's the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 making 577 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque backed by a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and four-wheel steering. The drive modes and chassis tune are unique to Maybach, though, offering a plusher ride with less focus on high-speed lateral action and flag-drop finishes. We've previously described the AMG SL cars as having "tough-guy-in-designer-duds styling." The Maybach SL is still well dressed and well muscled, but now it's less prone to losing its temper. While the overall body of the Maybach SL is not radically different from the SL63's, it gets a different personality through a unique front end and Maybach-specific 21-inch forged wheels, in five-hole monoblock or spoked designs. Where the standard SL has a GT-like shark mouth flanked by wide air inlets, the Maybach fills its maw with delicate slats. Below is an open lower fascia that, on closer inspection, is composed of a mesh of interlocking Maybach logos. The Maybach pattern will be a recurring theme around the car. From the fabric top to the optional printed pattern on the hood, experiencing the Maybach SL is a bit like driving away in a high-end handbag. Even tiny details, like the coppery housings over the LED headlights or the chrome badges along the side, leave no opportunity to mistake this SL for anything but a Maybach. While Maybach buyers will obviously have the chance to customize their SL through Mercedes's Manufaktur bespoke services, the debut SLs come in two ready-made Monogram Series specs, White Ambience and Red Ambience, which sound like opposing queens in an Alice in Wonderland adventure. We recommend not offing anyone's heads, however, since the only interior layout includes Crystal White nappa leather and fluffy white carpets. Truly, is there anything that screams "disposable income" more than white floor mats? You'd need a carpet cleaner on retainer. They can live on one of your yachts. Neither of the Monogram paint schemes is a subtle package, but then again, who buys a convertible (and a Maybach, for that matter) to blend in? Inside, Maybach removed the SL's tiny rear seats in favor of a leather-covered package tray. The front seats remain in the same location, so there's no major increase in legroom, but the change makes the interior less cluttered, so we suppose you could claim that it offers some additional mental space. The remaining front seats are softer than in the Mercedes version, with additional padding in the backrest and the bottom cushion. It's noticeable and appreciated, especially on the roads around Ibiza, Spain, where the only thing more popular than a sick beat was a speed bump. Not that too many of those bumps made their way through the retuned suspension of the SL680. Maybach sacrificed some of the road-hugging sharpness of the SL63 in favor of road-absorbing comfort, with a decrease in camber, revalved dampers, softer springs front and rear, and increased cushioning around the suspension mounting points to soak up vibrations before they reach the cabin. Maybach's drive modes are comfort focused as well, with relaxed steering feel and even some luxury lag in throttle input—but only in Maybach mode. In Sport mode, the adaptive dampers tighten up, the steering quickens, and the throttle offers instant response, although Maybach claims that the SL680's Sport mode is still softer than even the Comfort mode in the SL63. These changes—plus the additional weight of the SL680's sound deadening and rose-gold details—should add close to a second to the 3.0-second 60-mph time we got from the SL63. Since this is your island-only car, there are surely plenty of track monsters in your mainland garage. It may be off-brand to admit it, but there were things we liked better about the softened-up SL. In the user-configurable Individual mode, with Sport's responsive throttle and Maybach's relaxed suspension setup, the SL680 swooshed around corners with none of the jitters or sidestepping of its more athletic competitors. It's almost a forgotten pleasure, to go fast without feeling every pavement imperfection drummed up your spinal column. If this is luxury, we like it. Certainly, it's a delight from the right seat, where a harsh ride feels worse when there's no driving task to distract. Passenger princes and princesses will be suggesting the Maybach for all outings. So what's the downside to Maybaching it up? Well, there's the price, which, while not currently available, is likely to be considerably more than the AMG SL63's $188,300. On that note, should Maybach have done more? While we loved the cushioned ride, are a flashy hood and softer springs enough to differentiate the Maybach SL680 from the AMG SL63? In some ways, the buyer gets less for more—no rear seat, less impressive performance numbers, likely a paltry 15-mpg EPA combined fuel-economy rating—and none of the specialty features of the larger Maybach offerings. With no rear seat or extended cabin, there's no place to showcase a reclining lounge seat or a refrigerated wine cooler. The niceties of the Maybach SL are shared with the Mercedes SL. A warming Airscarf from the headrest, massaging seats, a convertible top that can be raised or lowered in 15 seconds, a center touchscreen that can be tilted to avoid glare—all are fabulous conveniences, but none of them are unique to the Maybach. One wonders whether the Maybach buyer might simply opt for the top-of-the-line SL63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid and consider that enough. 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