You’d think that a car like the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 would barely register a sideways glance in a place like St Tropez.
But as we rumble around the Mediterranean playground of the rich and famous after a memorable couple of hours on the surrounding country roads, it becomes obvious very quickly that our shiny example is causing quite a stir.
Perhaps it is the new roadster’s appearance. Distinctive if not exactly possessing the elegance of some performance-orientated open-top rivals, the second-generation SL 63 looks like it means business. In 2016, the SL 63 and 65 was given a mild facelift, which saw some fettling done to the bodywork, but saw AMG resist the temptation to fettle under the bonnet.
Still, I can’t help feel that Mercedes has missed an opportunity with the styling of this car, especially the headlamps, which look comically large. They are the result, apparently, of a decision to provide them with all the very latest in lighting technology rather than any stylistic consideration.
However, it is the technology you can’t see that really advances the game. As with its standard sibling, this latest AMG model is based around a brand-new aluminium body structure that contributes to a 125kg reduction in weight over its steel-bodied predecessor when added equipment levels are taken into consideration.
Allied to a new twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine, the lightweight structure provides it with the potential for greater performance and added handling prowess.
Power has increased by 11bhp to 529bhp endowing the car with an ultimate power-to-weight ratio of 314bhp per tonne. That’s an increase of 30bhp per tonne over the old model.
Torque is up by 73lb ft, or a whopping 199lb ft with the higher engine tune, which extends its torque-to-weight ratio by 30lb ft per tonne to 375lb ft per tonne – or 89lb ft per tonne more than the far more expensive SLS. For those who want a bit more power have the option of the SL 65 with its mammoth 6.0-litre V12 engine and 621bhp and 737lb ft of torque.
There are two driving modes, accessed by a button on the centre console: Comfort and Sport. The Comfort setting places a clear emphasis on overall refinement and all-round compliancy and is perfectly suited to city driving and loping part-throttle cruising, at which the SL 63 feels right at home, thanks to the inherent flexibility of its engine.