German tuning house Manhart works its magic on all manner of brands (as you can see from this link). Most recently the company applied its special treatment on the outgoing Mercedes-AMG C63 stationwagon. Now they have turned their attention to another AMG which they call the Manhart SL800R.

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Mercedes-AMG SL-based

The Manhart SL800R is based on the current Mercedes-AMG SL. This latest generation SL was launched towards the end of last year. In a turnaround, the SL was developed entirely by AMG so it is less of a cruiser and more of a sportscar. 

More info on the R232-generation SL at this link.

Under the bonnet of the SL range is Mercedes-AMG’s now familiar twin-turbocharged V8. The range-leading SL63 has a more than adequate 430 kW/800 N.m. Power is fed to the road through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Unlike any SL before the newest version features an all-wheel-drive system.

Read about the record price achieved for an original ‘Gullwing’ SL by clicking here.

Massive power increase

Well, Manhart doesn’t keep things standard and they have massaged the engine to unleash loads more power. Part of the upgrade package includes replacing the stock turbochargers with new items of their own design. Moreover, pressurised air is now fed into the motor through a new intercooler and carbon intake. 

The end result is quoted peak power output that is a shade under 600 kW (800 hp, hence the name) with over 1 000 N.m of torque. An SL63’s 0-100 km/h sprint time is 3,6 seconds. While Manhart doesn’t share any performance claims, we are pretty certain their creation is a bit quicker than the standard car.

The car is finished in Manhart’s signature black base colour with contrasting golden decals. A set of larger Manhart Concave alloys with golden pinstripe add to the aggression.