Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Mercedes-Benz reveals its latest V12 monster, the SL65 AMG

Andy Boxall
By

Mercedes SL65 AMG TopAhead of its public debut at the New York Motor Show in April, and just weeks after the new SL63 AMG was revealed, Mercedes-Benz has given us our first look at its big brother, the new range-topping SL65 AMG roadster.

If you thought the SL63 AMG sounded impressive, then you’ll really love this, as it’s another in a long-line of AMG-tuned cars that boasts not only a ridiculous amount of horsepower, but enough torque to move mountains.

Recommended Videos

So what’s hiding under the hood? It’s a 6-liter V12 with two turbochargers, capable of producing 621 horsepower between 4,800 and 5,400 rpm, and 738 lb-ft of torque. This converts into a 4-second 0-60 time, while the 0-125 miles per hour dash takes just 11.8 seconds, and it all ends at an electronically limited 155 miles per hour top speed.

Related

This trumps the stock SL63 by 91 horsepower and shaves 0.3 seconds off the 0-60 run, all of which sounds great, but it’s the fact that the SL65 AMG has more power and more torque than the incredible SLS AMG that truly impresses. Despite this, it can’t quite match Merc’s supercar in acceleration or top speed.

The motor inside the SL65 is a tweaked version of the same unit crammed into the old model, but the transmission driving the rear-wheels has been upgraded to the 7G-Tronic, marking the first time Mercedes’ seven-speed automatic has been used on an SL65 series car.

Mercedes SL65 AMG Interior
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thanks to a new aluminum body and a carbon fiber trunk, the SL65 is 170 kg/374 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, which in turn has boosted the fuel economy, raising it by 17-percent to 24.4 miles per gallon according to Mercedes-Benz.

Your local dealer should be seeing the SL65 AMG in the fall, but pricing has yet to be announced, however that hasn’t stopped AutoExpress.co.uk from estimating it’ll reach £150,000 in the UK. That converts to $238,000 at today’s rate, and considering the slightly higher-specced SL65 AMG Black is around $300,000, probably isn’t that unrealistic.

While the SL65 AMG may not share the technological wonders found inside the new Ferrari F12berlinetta, it’s still great to see both these manufacturers embracing the V12 engine, a motor which some would rather see relegated to the history books. The fact that it’s still here, and more powerful than ever, is a very good thing indeed.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The 6 best car phone holders in 2024
Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Read more
Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more