2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: 2008 Geneva Auto Show

We got a good look at the refreshed 2009 Mercedes SL550 a couple weeks ago, but the Geneva auto show was the official debut of the SL63 AMG. Instead of the SL550's 5.5-liter V8 with 388 horsepower, the SL63 uses a 6.2-liter V8 with 525 hp. It's also the first application of Mercedes' new seven-speed transmission. It's called MCT Sportshift and it combines the smoothness of an automatic with the direct feel of a manual... Sure, all automatics promise that, but this one does it better because it has a clutch pack in place of a torque converter according to Mercedes-Benz. There are four shift programs and a launch control feature that will deliver a 0-60-mph time of just 4.6 seconds. Again, Mercedes' numbers, not ours.

The SL63 AMG also gets a sport suspension with Active Body Control, 14.2-inch composite brake rotors up front and aluminum six-piston calipers. The wheels measure 19 inches in diameter and wear tires sized 255/35 in front and 285/30 in back. There are plenty of AMG-specific styling cues as well, some more tasteful than others. We can live with the blacked-out grille, rear diffuser and quad exhaust pipes, but those silver quarter-panel vents are tacky looking on a six-figure car. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line