Mercedes SL 65 AMG: Super Cabrio – Sports Cars

WHY the new Mercedes SL65 AMG? Why would anyone buy this? These are inevitable questions if you find this superSL worth 245.469 € 46.869. That's € 38.299 185.193 more than the SLS with its beautiful gullwing doors, and € 63 more than the SLS Roadster if you prefer the outdoors. If, on the other hand, you want a folding hard top and a slightly awkward look, there is always a Ferrari California with the Special Handling package for 8 € 178.290, not to mention the lighter and more aggressive SL65 VXNUMX, a bargain with its XNUMX XNUMX €. ... Wherever you look, you'll see more exotic and exciting contenders than the SLXNUMX AMG.

But none of them have SL65 numbers: its V12 6.0. biturbo develops 629 hp. at 4.800 rpm. couple 1.000 Nm in the range from 2.300 to 4.300 rpm. This is its beauty: the crazy pair and the "V12 Turbo" lettering on the side air intakes. But then you discover that it weighs 1.950 kg compared to the 1.710 kg of the SL63 and that while the SL63 V8 has a crude seven-speed wet-clutch MCT automatic, it has to settle for the more conventional 7G-Tronic with hydrotransformer... The SLS weighs just 1.620 kg and is equipped with a dual clutch. What an injustice!

This whole pair seems to be very expensive. This is not to say that if I was offered to drive the SL65 AMG for a couple of days, I would refuse. She's fantastic and there is no doubt about that. But this specimen with a very inconspicuous matte gray livery, aesthetic packaging in carbonthen Magic Sky Control Roof и carbon ceramic brakes expenses – hold on tight – more than 260.000 euros.

For this figure, it should be more than fantastic, it should be really spectacular. But when you're cruising in the city or on the highway, the impressive SL65 is definitely not the same. IN engine it's powerful, but not as dramatic as the V8 AMG, and tends to be quiet after a hectic awakening (for that ignition sound we have to thank stop-start. Oh yes, the SL65 AMG has stop-start: otherwise you know what the emissions are with this biturbo V12 6.0 ...). The movement is stopped even in the Comfort и steering it seems too fast for the frame, causing a series of jumps and jerks. It's a poorly matched pair with a smooth V12 engine and quick steering on one hand and a fairly smooth ride on the other. As if the SL65 can't supercar and was too unbalanced to make a GT.

However, slowly but surely, the SL65 manages to win you over. It is impossible not to appreciate the complex note of the engine and its own performance endless and wild. He falls hard, but the most striking and exciting thing is the force of the blow and the way he falls to the ground. IN bus The rears of the 285/30 ZR19 barely match that power and torque, and are perfect for enjoying the SL65 without taking too many risks if you choose an intermediate setting. Sports appeal O 'ESP... So the tires start at 2.500 rpm and then resume the electronics and start rolling again at peak power at 4.800 rpm. What if you turn it off completely? At this point, the engine takes over the tires so quickly that even if you take your foot off the gas, the inertia generated in the gearbox and rear will cause the tires to slide for a horrible, endless second before putting them back in place. It's easy to get into trouble with this car without even realizing it.

Incredibly, despite all this power, the SL65 manages to tackle the most winding roads with incredible efficiency and absurd speed. A couple (what a couple!) Erases imperfections Speed a bit slow and unresponsive, the Sport Handling mode is very balanced and the shock absorbers in mode Sports this is great for such a large and heavy machine.

The steering is always a little inert, but the front grip is good, the carbon ceramic brakes are a little porous but powerful, and all this allows the car to spin at supersonic speed, unleashing the best of not only the engine, but also the engine. Frame. The SL65 is not as powerful as the SLS, but there is something fun about it: it's like overcoming a hurricane.

So back to the question: what is the SL65 AMG for? I'm not sure yet. It has wild power, but not the power and showiness you'd expect from a car at this price point. And the wolf in sheep's clothing is not for those who want to combine exaggerated power with a low-key line. Perhaps the point is that it is useless. There Mercedes и AMG they built it simply because they could. And whoever buys it will probably do it simply because they can. Unfortunately, I am not among them, but I would like to have a friend who was.