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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG In Australia By Third Quarter

The Mercedes AMG Petronas W03 F1 racing car wasn't the only new Merc to roll out this week, with the all-new SL 63 AMG driven onto the Barcelona track by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

The debut this week of the new topless top-shelf tour

Mike Stevens

22:1421 February 2012

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG In Australia By Third Quarter

The Mercedes AMG Petronas W03 F1 racing car wasn't the only new Merc to roll out this week, with the all-new SL 63 AMG driven onto the Barcelona track by Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

The debut this week of the new topless top-shelf tourer follows the unveiling in December of the regular SL-Class, headlined by the flagship SL 550 variant.

In SL 63 AMG form, the new convertible is the company's new 5.5 litre twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering 400kW and 800Nm of torque.

Thanks to the new SL's lighter body and its new eco stop/start system, Merc says the new AMG version returns fuel consumption figures 30 percent better than the outgoing model.

Mercedes says the new SL 63 will hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, but opt for the AMG Performance Package, which lifts output to 510kW and 900Nm, and you'll unlock a slightly quicker 4.1-second sprint.

In both cases, power is sent to the rear wheels through AMG's trusty Speedshift seven-speed automated-manual transmission.

The SL 63 AMG also benefits from performance suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels and more powerful braking system, featuring six-piston calipers up front.

With the AMG Performance Package, the wheel arrangement is upgraded to 20-inch rims at the rear, and 19s at the front.