Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Volvo’s much-anticipated EX30 EV to reach U.S. before year end
Front three quarter view of the 2025 Volvo EX30.

Volvo is switching gears again, this time to accelerate deliveries of its much-anticipated EX30 subcompact electric SUV so that it reaches the U.S. before the end of 2024.

The Swedish automaker last summer had postponed the U.S. launch of the EX30 to 2025, citing “changes in the global automotive landscape." The move followed the Biden administration’s 100% import tariff on electric vehicles made in China.

Read more
Rivian R2 EV’s new LG battery boosts storage capacity sixfold
Rivian R2

The Rivian R2, the EV maker’s much-anticipated affordable electric SUV, will be powered by U.S.-made batteries promising to store six times as much energy as those currently used.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions announced it will be supplying LG’s 4695 cylindrical batteries to Rivian as part of a five-year agreement.

Read more
Scout Terra vs. Tesla Cybertruck: retro and futuristic, head to head
Scout Motors Terra driving front

Scout Motors is back. The classic brand has been reinvigorated under Volkswagen Group, and not only that, but it has already announced two new vehicles that it plans to launch in the next few years. Of the two, the Scout Terra is the electric truck, and it's built to offer a modern design with an excellent range and fast performance.

But how does the Scout Terra compare with another popular electric truck, the Tesla Cybertruck? While the Scout Terra is set to be much cheaper than the Cybertruck is now, it's entirely possible that by the time the Terra is released, it could have a higher price tag than expected, while Tesla lowers the price tag of the Cybertruck. Is one of these trucks objectively better? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The Scout Terra and the Tesla Cybertruck arguably couldn't be further apart in terms of design. Of course, variation is a good thing, at least as long as both options are solid under the hood too.

Read more