The awaited arrival of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL: price and key features revealed

The eagerly awaited Mercedes-AMG SL 63 4Matic+ is scheduled to make its grand entrance in July. Starting at a price of $374,900 excluding on-road costs, this luxurious model is already open for orders.

The anticipation surrounding the new 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL, arriving exclusively in its premier AMG 63 model, has reached fever pitch as it is set to hit Australian shores this July. Available for pre-order now, the luxury sports car is priced at $374,900, excluding on-road costs. This marks a notable increase from its predecessor, the SL 500, which last sold in 2020 at a price point of $82,400 lower.

The decision by Mercedes-Benz Australia to forgo the less powerful SL 43 and SL 55 models, despite initial plans to launch them in 2022, emphasizes the brand's focus on delivering top-tier performance. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL is the latest rendition, following its global unveiling in late 2021. For the first time, the SL series has been exclusively crafted under the Mercedes-AMG brand.

A significant departure from its previous iterations, the SL now boasts a fabric soft top rather than a metal hard top – a design modification that has not been seen for over two decades. This shift in design direction has resulted in a weight reduction of 21kg. Additionally, the roof can be operated while in motion, opening or closing in a swift 15 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h.

Moreover, the new SL reinvigorates the optional 2+2 seating layout from its fourth-generation counterpart, providing a hint of practicality. The rear seats, while ideal for storage or small children, can also accommodate passengers of up to 1.5 meters in height. Mercedes-AMG hints at the target market by highlighting the rear seating area's capability to store a golf bag comfortably.

The new SL is underpinned by an innovative aluminium composite spaceframe platform - the Modular Sports Architecture (MSA). It will also serve as the foundation for the forthcoming AMG GT coupe. This innovative platform doesn't borrow any components from the previous SL or AMG GT roadsters, indicating a completely fresh approach.

Housing a formidable 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, the SL 63 4Matic+ generates 430kW of power and 800Nm of torque. Mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and featuring a fully-variable 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system, it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a mere 3.6 seconds and reach an astounding top speed of 315km/h.

In terms of dimensions, the SL 63 4Matic+ measures 4705mm in length, 1915mm in width, 1353mm in height with a 2700mm wheelbase. Its trunk offers a reasonable 240 litres of capacity, though this reduces slightly to 213 litres when the soft top is retracted.

A host of safety features come standard with the SL 63 4Matic+. These include eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), pedestrian detection, junction assist, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, exit warning assist, lane-change assist, active steering assist, driver attention assist, surround-view camera, parking assist, anti-theft alarm, interior monitoring system and tyre pressure monitoring.

Finally, the expected five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty should give potential owners peace of mind. While service intervals and pricing are yet to be confirmed, one thing is for certain - the 2023 Mercedes-AMG SL is poised to make a grand entrance into the Australian market this year.