2025 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class

One of Mercedes-Benz's most enduring models, the SL roadster owes its longevity to a mix of timeless style, brawny power and continual evolution. Six-, eight- and even 12-cylinder engines have been the SL's main motive sources, but keeping with the times, this latest generation also offers a turbocharged four-cylinder. For 2025, the SL takes another leap into the future with a V8-based plug-in hybrid powertrain that generates astonishing power. Regardless of what's under the hood, though, the SL remains the same icon of relaxed luxury motoring that it was six decades ago.

The Porsche 911 convertible is one of the SL's nearest competitors. It too offers the pretense of a rear seat and a wide range of performance, but even in its most relaxed form, the 911 remains a sports car at heart. It's livelier and more engaging than the SL but at the cost of comfort. The BMW 8 Series (and related high-performance M8) offers comparable performance, and its extra length gives it more useful trunk space than the Benz's paltry storage. Meanwhile, the Lexus LC delivers a more sedate but similarly elegant luxury open-top experience. The sultry new Maserati GranCabrio is worth a look, although we've found the performance of the GranTurismo coupe on which it's based wanting.

The new AMG SL 63 S E Performance trim takes Benz's luxury roadster to another level, pairing its potent V8 with an electric motor for 805 horsepower, 1,047 lb-ft of torque, and zero-to-60 acceleration in 2.8 seconds. And while technically a hybrid — a plug-in hybrid at that — the S E Performance isn't a fuel-savings exercise. Its 19 miles per gallon equivalent (mpg-e) on the highway attests to that. And while Mercedes hasn't revealed how much electric-only range the S E Performance will offer, its dainty 6.1-kWh battery suggests not much (we'll call it 10-15 miles, since we're the speculating kind). No, the new plug-in's electric complement is all about power, speed and exhilaration, precisely what you'd expect of a car likely to list for around $200,000. Befitting its top-dog status, the S E Performance also packs some of Benz's niftiest gadgets, including rear-wheel steering, a sensitive and finely tuned adaptive suspension, and powerful carbon-ceramic brakes.