Review Roundup: Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, C63 AMG And SLK200 Kompressor

In our second and final Review Roundup of the day, we have a total of five articles analyzing the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, C63 AMG and SLK200 Kompressor for your reading entertainment. As always, you can find excerpts from each article along with links back to the full review immediately below.

Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

"Moving off, the SL63 feels more like an automated manual than a torque-converter auto, the bite of the clutch varying with the throttle input. However, once you’ve shifted into second there’s little to suggest that there’s anything but a regular auto ’box shuffling the gears. Meanwhile the steering is meatily weighted and the ABC suspension, firmed up over the cooking versions, feels less absorbent than the SL55’s, no question, but there’s an edge, a directness, that suggests a quite different experience to the out- going model.

Initially, it feels like it’s going to be a lesser experience. The instant gratification of the torque-rich SL55 is missing, despite seven gears (as opposed to five) and the sharper throttle response; you have to work the new engine hard, using lots of revs. However, while the start-of-day feeling was that the SL63 was a little ‘flat’ and not as exciting as its 518bhp rating suggested, by the time I handed the keys back I had been won over by its ability and consistency. The further you drive the SL63, the better it feels. The directness of its steering, the firmness of its chassis and the need to work its engine and gearbox hard ultimately fuse into a very satisfying experience. As ever, the active suspension helps disguise the SL’s weight, giving the car a neat, agile feel through a sequence of bends."

For more Mercedes reviews and information, visit www.eMercedesBenz.com