With a legacy that stretches back all the way to the original 300SL Gullwing, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL-class is an automotive icon. Recent examples haven’t been as impressive as expected and a host of newer two-door, four-seat grand touring convertibles have rendered it obsolete, but the new generation SL is taking a sportier tack and will be offered only with an AMG badge. The entry-level SL55 is powered by a 469-hp twin-turbo V-8 while the racier SL63 gets a 577-hp version of that same motor. All-wheel drive and four-wheel steering are both standard and are intended to improve both handling and performance. Although it’s being reimagined as a more focused sports car, the new SL also sports a luxurious and tech-heavy cabin. And in a nod to previous generations, the new SL features a folding fabric roof in place of the outgoing models’ power-folding hardtop, thereby retaining its open-air persona while also saving weight.
