In the world of high-octane, testosterone-fueled racing, the question arises: Can a race car have a back seat? Is there room for comfort and passengers in a finely tuned instrument of speed?

The thought came to mind while piloting the latest gestation of the Mercedes-Benz SL. Although the first-generation SL changed minimally from its racing days, since then, the SL has capitulated to its place in the market, becoming a luxury grand tourer, albeit with two seats.

Now it has four, arranged in a 2+2 configuration that results in a second row best suited for amputees, your mother-in-law or your ex. If you do stuff some unfortunate souls back there, they won’t be comfortable, but they might admire their surroundings.

And for the driver and front seat passenger, those interior surroundings are impressive. Sitting low, hemmed in by the SL's high beltline, you sense yourself not so much in a car as in a leather-and-carbon-fiber spa for adults who still require a toy. Its seats heat, cool and massage you, while the Airscarf gently blows warm air on the nape of your neck during cooler drives with the top down.

This is Stuttgart’s notion of a sports car, except that no one in Stuttgart really believes in the suffering that a true sports car inflicts. They learned that lesson in 1954. That SL, the legendary Gullwing, had thick sills to climb over and a cockpit so tight that you had to unpin the steering wheel and tilt it forward to gain admission. So much heat came through the floorboards that it would melt your soles. Even worse, the windows didn't roll down, and there was no air-conditioning.

The instrument panel is a work of theater, accessorized with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and anchored by an 11.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that’s the size of a Biergarten menu. Its phosphorescence glows indulgently, stuffed with menus and sub-menus that await the touch of your finger or the sound of your voice. You’ll never figure out everything it can do, but it’s nice to know it’s there if you need it, even if you don’t know that it’s there. One item that’s appreciated is the superb 1,000-watt, 11-speaker Burmester surround sound system, one that plays your music loud enough to make the neighbors question your life choices — and that’s before you drop the top or crank the engine.

Speaking of engines, the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 comes with a magnificent AMG-built 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 delivering 577 horses at full gallop, and riding through a nine-speed transmission. But this SL is the SL 63 S E Performance, which adds a rear-mounted electric motor transforming it into a plug-in hybrid. It also significantly increases the power on tap, which is rated at 805 horsepower and an astounding 1,047 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is better than you’d expect, with a combined EPA rating of 18 mpg, and all-electric range of one mile. This hybrid is built for speed.

Press the throttle and the car charges forward, its V-8 erupting like velvet-wrapped thunder, aided and abetted by four-wheel steering and all-wheel drive. Acceleration? How about teleportation? Your cheeks sag and your rib cage compresses during the 2.8 seconds it takes to reach 60 mph. It renders other vehicles as supporting actors in your personal motion picture. The SL has always been a boulevardier, carrying the upper 1% to the opera in silk-lined comfort. This one behaves as though someone whispered “Nürburgring” into its ECU. Better yet, any problem in the SL has been engineered out of existence. Is the ride too harsh? Add adaptive dampers. Is it too quiet? A flick of the exhaust valves and suddenly you’re leading a Wagner opera from the driver’s seat. The suspension? Firm, polite and just mean enough to show you who’s boss. Potholes shiver as the SL 63 S E Performance appears.

Of course, you don’t drive an SL 63; it announces itself, like a billionaire showing up to brunch in a tuxedo because, well, why not? It arrives, fronted by a massive grille mainlining air to cool its massive petrol-fueled powerplant. Climb inside, slouch low, Ray-Bans on, wrist draped over the wheel with the roof down, the sun catching its chrome, and imagine you’re being photographed by paparazzi on the way to the St. Moritz. That’s the way it makes you feel. And it’s the reason you didn’t buy a Porsche or a Ferrari.

Yes, its price starts at $187,150, while the S E Performance variant starts at $207,150. In most people’s minds, that buys a small condo. But your condo won’t turn heads, scare red lights or make your accountant nervous. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance is not a sensible sedan or a utilitarian SUV. It’s a performance, a personality, a ticket to applause every time you leave the driveway.

2025 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance

Base price: $207,150

Engine: 00

Horsepower/Torque: 805/1,047 pound-feet

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 16 mpg

Fuel required: Premium

Length/Width/Height: 183/74/51 inches

Ground clearance: 4.4 inches

Payload: 717 pounds

Cargo capacity: 8.5-13.5 cubic feet

Towing capacity: Not rated

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