The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. Image: Mercedes-Benz
If you want to go fast in a topless Mercedes-Benz today, your best current option is the 2012 SL63 AMG. The roadster packs a 6.2-liter V-8 good for some 518 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, which makes for an entertaining ride by almost anyone’s definition. What’s not to like about a 0-60 mph time of under 4.7 seconds?
For some, though, the SL63 is too sedate and too common. If a V-8 is good, wouldn’t a force-fed V-12 be better? If 518 horsepower is entertaining, wouldn’t 621 horsepower be even better? Who has the time to wait nearly five seconds to run from 0-60 mph when you can have a car capable of the sprint in just 3.9 seconds?
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. Image: Mercedes-Benz
If you fall into this category, and if the cost of a car is of no concern, then Mercedes-Benz has a ride for you. Although it won’t make its official debut until next month’s New York Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz has leaked images of the new SL65 ahead of time, and it looks to be an impressive roadster.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. Image: Mercedes-Benz
First and foremost is the biturbo, 6.0-liter V-12 engine, good for the previously mentioned 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Despite the SL65’s hefty curb weight of 4,299 pounds (which is still some 254 pounds lighter than the model it replaces), the ragtop will run sub-four-seconds times to 60 mph, on its way to a top speed of 186 mph. Shifting is handled by an AMG SpeedShift Plus 7-Speed transmission, which is likely the only gearbox in Mercedes’ inventory capable of handling the SL65’s earth-moving torque.
The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG. Image: Mercedes-Benz
Inside, “best of everything” is the easiest way to sum up the SL65’s features. AMG sport seats come in one or two-tone leather, stitched in an exclusive diamond pattern. The “Airscarf” feature blows warm air on the back of your neck, ensuring a broader range of topless comfort. The retractable hardtop comes with “Magic Sky Control,” allowing drivers to set the amount of light coming through the roof at the press of a button, enjoying a view of the sky even in the middle of winter.
The SL65 will hit U.S. Mercedes dealers in November, at a starting price that’s yet to be announced. Given that the entry-level SL550 is priced from $106,375, we’d expect the range topping SL65 AMG to come close to the $200k price point.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
