By some means we’re already midway via 2024, and the automotive world is chugging alongside in direction of electrification. Just about each automaker presents a number of absolutely electrical and hybrid fashions at this level, however there’s a definite lack of plug-in variations of 1 explicit physique type: Convertibles. Except for a couple of mid-engine supercars, nearly no manufacturers will promote you a convertible with something past a easy 48-volt hybrid system. Mercedes is altering that with the 2025 Mercedes-AMG SL63 S E Efficiency, a plug-in-hybrid roadster with a protracted identify and the efficiency to again it up.
Full disclosure: Mercedes flew me to Stuttgart, Germany to spend a couple of days driving the GT63 and SL63 PHEVs and driving alongside within the GT63 Professional. We stayed at some very good inns, and Mercedes put me up in a lodge in Amsterdam for 2 nights when the Crowdstrike outage canceled my flight residence.
Beneath the pores and skin the SL63 S E Efficiency is principally an identical to the GT63 S E Efficiency. (For an much more in-depth tackle this powertrain, learn that assessment.) It pairs a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine over the entrance axle with an electrical motor and battery pack mounted on the rear axle. By itself the engine makes 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, 26 hp and 37 lb-ft greater than the usual SL63’s V8. The electrical motor places out 201 hp and 236 lb-ft, with juice offered by the 6.1-kWh battery (of which 4.8 kWh is usable), and the motor can act instantly on the driveshaft to energy all 4 wheels. That 400-volt battery has a direct-cooling system that includes liquid that flows round the entire cells to chill them individually, so the pack is at all times at optimum temperature.
Add up the entire powertrain’s elements and also you’ve obtained a mega 805 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes estimates the SL63 S E Efficiency will attain 60 mph from a cease in simply 2.8 seconds and go on to a prime velocity of 196 mph, making it each the quickest and quickest SL ever made. (These figures are solely 0.1 second and three mph off the GT, too.) It definitely feels that fast in follow; launch management is much less brutal than within the gas-only SL, delivering a large surge of torque that by no means lets up. It’s an outstanding powertrain, with quick response and robust acceleration regardless of the velocity or scenario.
When the battery is absolutely charged the SL63 S E Efficiency could have an electrical vary of round 8 miles. In a world the place different plug-in hybrids have EV-only ranges of upwards of 40 miles — together with from Mercedes — that sounds low, even after listening to AMG engineers discuss how this powertrain is de facto about efficiency, not effectivity. In the true world, although, the automotive’s vary is far better.
In Sport mode, however particularly the Sport+ and Race modes, the battery is at all times getting charged up as shortly as attainable utilizing the engine, belt generator and rear axle. The battery could be absolutely replenished in just some minutes of regular driving, and the sooner you go and tougher you drive, the faster it’ll fill again up. In these performance-oriented drive modes the automotive continues to be utilizing that battery juice and electrical motor to help the engine in delivering most energy, and but the battery’s cost hardly ever dips.
Twist the drive mode knob into Consolation and the SL makes use of electrical energy for as lengthy and as typically as attainable, but it surely gained’t deplete the battery previous about 25 p.c. Even then, the automotive nonetheless turns off the engine as a lot as it will possibly, and the operation is so seamless that I can barely inform when the engine kicks in. There’s an Electrical drive mode too, which retains the engine off till the battery runs out, except you hit the kickdown level within the accelerator at which level the engine will kick in and the automotive routinely switches to Consolation. The electrical motor can produce 94 hp of steady output or the total 201 hp in peak conditions, which is greater than sufficient for around-town driving, and the SL will attain above 80 mph in Electrical mode.
With the material roof stowed, which takes simply 15 seconds and could be achieved at as much as 37 mph, the plug-in-hybrid system provides an entire new dimension to the SL that you just don’t get within the GT. Snaking via quiet cities underneath electrical energy is great. Simply peeved Germans simply see the SL and smile because it silently glides previous; if this have been a traditional SL63, they’d be scowling on the V8’s pointless noise at low speeds, which is doubly embarrassing with the highest down. It begins up silently as properly, utilizing solely battery energy when the automotive is first turned on. As somebody who hardly ever drives with the home windows down not to mention with convertible tops retracted, the EV operation made me truly wish to drive the SL63 as a convertible. On the good nation roads round Mercedes’ Immendingen check facility, I can higher hear the birds and odor the roses. Having the ability to glide round city silently makes it even higher once I do wish to change it into Race mode and convey that beautiful V8 to life.
And man, is it good in Race mode. The plug-in powertrain is tremendous responsive and entertaining to rev out, and the V8 sounds superior, with natural bangs and burbles. The SL’s dealing with is extra playful than the GT’s, significantly when accelerating out of a nook the place the automotive is a little more squirrely and happier to kick the tail out a bit. Lively hydraulic suspension with anti-roll stabilization retains the automotive flat via corners, and rear-axle steering makes the dealing with extra nimble than its near-5,000-pound weight would recommend.
One draw back with Race mode is that you just’re restricted to one of many softer regenerative braking settings. In any of the opposite modes, Electrical included, the SL63 presents 4 ranges of regen from none in any respect to one-pedal driving that may almost deliver the automotive to finish cease. (Above 65-percent battery cost the one-pedal mode is disabled, too.) It’s simple to get used to the robust regen, and the operation is linear even when going quick within the twisties — the transmission will even downshift aggressively when decelerating simply utilizing regen. The regen is mixed in regular driving, however for those who actually stomp on the brake pedal the automotive depends on its large carbon-ceramic friction brakes.
I have to give a serious shoutout to the spec of the SL I drove. Since its introduction in 2021 the brand new SL has at all times been accessible in some cool manufacturing facility colours, however now Mercedes’ Manufaktur program presents a bunch of latest colours and fancier inside choices. This one is painted in Eire Mid Inexperienced Magno, a satin-finish shade that’s beautiful within the daylight and made even higher when paired with the entire chrome exterior trim. A Manufaktur inside package deal covers extra surfaces in coloured leather-based, together with the steering wheel, and you’ll lastly get wooden trim.
When the SL63 S E Efficiency reaches U.S. sellers later this summer season it can begin at $208,150 (together with $1,150 vacation spot), a premium of precisely $20,000 over the traditional SL63. The PHEV is price that improve to me, particularly for those who can plug in at residence or stay within the metropolis. It doesn’t have a lot competitors, both. A brand new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid prices $180,195 (add $7,800 for AWD), although add any choices and that rises quick. The 911 is a extra pure sports activities automotive however with none electric-only vary or plug-in functionality. Maserati’s absolutely electrical GranCabrio Folgore begins at $206,995, and whereas Andy says it’s actually good, it’s a special proposition from the V8-equipped SL.
The most important foil to the SL shall be the facelifted Bentley Continental GT Pace, which has a PHEV setup with a V8 and 50 miles of electrical vary, although it’ll absolutely be much more cash when it goes on sale later this. For now, in order for you a droptop with an engine up entrance and a few EV vary, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG SL63 S E Efficiency is your automotive. Fortunately it’s a superb one.
