New 804-bhp Mercedes SL 63 S E Performance smashes SL power record 

Meet the most powerful SL in history. But how has Mercedes managed to squeeze Mustang GTD firepower from the new corporate four-pot? Simply: it hasn’t… 

Listen carefully and you can still hear AMG fans’ pained whimpers after Mercedes delivered the somber news that the latest C63 will be exclusively available with just four pistons in its arsenal. Even its bigger brother, the venerable E63, has been demoted to six cylinders. Thankfully though, AMG hasn’t signed the V8’s death warrant just yet — instead, reserving it for models at the very top of the pecking order. 

That means the new SL hybrid now pumps out more ponies than a Ferrari 812 Superfast, McLaren 720s, and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Call upon all those horses to experience borderline teleportation: from a standstill, 60 mph will appear on the clocks in under 2.9 seconds. But it’s the in-gear torque that’s the most impressive stat of all: over 1040lb ft of twist won’t be bested by anything short of a Chieftain Tank. 

Such is the extent of the new SL 63 hybrid’s grunt, it’s made us wonder how it’s possible for cars to get much faster in the future — both from a legislative and purely physics-based perspective. Nonetheless, incredible though the headline figures are, to obsess over them would be doing the rest of the car a disservice.  

What makes this E Performance special compared to its standard SL 63 stablemate, is the inclusion of an F1-inspired lightweight 6.1 kWh battery. Granted, the eight miles of pure electric range isn’t worth bragging about, but the 201 bhp it sends to the rear axle will undoubtedly help with efficiency and traction when paired with the standard four-wheel-drive system.  

When you’ve essentially got the power of two potent performance cars tied together under your right foot, super sticky rubber is vital. Hence, why Mercedes has chosen to fit one of the strongest all-round performers on the market: Michelin’s Pilot Sport 4 S. With a voracious appetite for asphalt come rain or shine, the 4 S utilises an ultra-reactive tread pattern design to provide limpet-like grip. 

Further contributing to the E Performance’s unflappable roadholding is the retuned active aero hiding in the engine bay. Depending on the position of the drive mode selector, this cleverly positioned flap can extend by up to 40mm to reduce lift at the front end and suck the car towards terra firma.

We’re pleased to report that this hopped-up SL hasn’t forgotten its grand touring roots, either. The lashings of diamond-stitched leather and metallic accents adorning the cabin feel just as special as they do in the standard SL. Equally, the driver-focused cabin design and cutting-edge MBUX multimedia system ensure you’ll never tire of piloting the SL on lengthier trips.  

Sadly, as the V8 engine ascends to the very top of Mercedes’s line-up, eight cylinders will soon become the privilege of a very wealthy few. With the estimated starting price expected to be north of the £200,000 mark, the hybrid SL will have a supercar price tag to match its supersonic performance.  

If you’re fortunate enough to possess such a disposable income, we say jump at the chance to own one of the last great V8s — before the sun sets on the format for good. Will this be Mercedes’ final high-capacity convertible? Let us know what you think.  

Hero image credit: Mercedes