SL 63

Some cars arrive in Sardinia as guests; others seem to belong here. The SL has been in the second category for generations. Roof down on the descent towards the Pevero, a pause at Capriccioli with pink granite filling the mirror, arrival at the Porto Cervo quayside as the V8 falls silent with one last murmur: every scene is rightfully its own. Small wonder it features among the protagonists of our guide to supercar rental on the Costa Smeralda.

Delivery on the Costa Smeralda is the natural choice, but the SL 63 also rewards those who slip away from the spotlight: the coast road to Santa Teresa Gallura, the rises and falls of Liscia Ruja, the low sunset light on the road to Porto Rotondo. With the roof open, every kilometre stops being a transfer and becomes part of the holiday.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 announces itself at start-up with a low thunder, then unfurls into a full, rounded crescendo that, roof down, reaches you directly and unfiltered. The nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT uses a wet multi-plate clutch in place of a torque converter: shifts are quick and direct, almost dual-clutch in feel, and in Sport+ every downshift is punctuated by a volley from the exhaust.

The 3.6-second 0–100 km/h sprint says plenty, but the real surprise is the agility: rear-axle steering shortens the SL through tight corners, 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive keeps everything composed on the way out, and the steering carries a natural weight that invites you to drive even when you could simply cruise. This is a roadster capable of being grand tourer and supercar in the same afternoon.

This generation returns the SL to its purest form: a fabric roof that disappears in seconds, even on the move, a low, taut silhouette, and — for the first time in decades — a 2+2 layout. The two rear seats take soft luggage or, when needed, two youngsters for the run down to the beach: a flexibility that pure roadsters simply do not allow.

It is also the direct heir to a legend born in the 1950s with the 300 SL: driving it between Porto Cervo and Palau means writing yourself into that story, not merely renting a fast car. To explore the rest of the three-pointed star's range — our fleet counts over 100 models and 150+ versions — everything is on the dedicated Mercedes-AMG rental page.