Out of all car brands, Mercede-Benz has the longest history. After all, the car company started it all through Karl Benz – the de-facto inventor of the first combustion-powered car, in 1886. Although the Benz Patent Motorwagen was not a fast car with its one-horsepower, single-cylinder engine, it eventually led to the founding of what would later become Mercedes-Benz. Throughout its entire history, Mercedes was a brand that chased perfection and performance.

Combined with the company's rich motorsports history and good-old German engineering, this led to some genuinely mind-blowing creations, some of which were not road-legal. Among them were vehicles explicitly built to break speed records that would shame even hypercars like the Bugatti Chiron. When we say Mercedes did some truly epic things performance-wise, we do not exaggerate, and what's even more mind-boggling is that some of those cars came in the 1930s and were responsible for some of the longest-held records.

Without further ado, these are the 15 fastest Mercedes sports cars ever made.

Looking at data from MotorTrend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, and Road and Track, we have compiled a list of the fastest cars by comparing the top speed of each individual sports car.

Updated on July 13, 2023: Over the decades, numerous Mercedes sports cars have come and gone that have gained a place in our hearts, so we have decided to refresh and update this list. That means instead of burying this one into the endless articles lost to the internet, the original ten sports cars can be found below, and a few new ones to help expand your knowledge.

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15 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe

Top Speed: 180 MPH

The Mercedes 300 SLR is a high-performance variant of the 300 SL that came a year earlier, in 1954. Its fixed head variant, dubbed the Uhlenhaut Coupe, after its designer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, is currently the most expensive car in the world. Last year, at a special auction, the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart sold one of only two existing 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes for $142 million.

Performance

Its 3.0-liter, naturally-aspirated M196 S straight-eight engine put out just over 300 horses, making it the fastest road-going sports car of its time. Its open-top racing variant enjoyed a successful racing career with drivers like Sir. Stirling Moss and Juan Manuel Fangio, behind the wheel. Sadly, the 300 SLR is also associated with the 1955 Le Mans disaster, which prompted Mercedes's long absence from racing.

14 2018 Mercedes AMG C63S (C205)

Top Speed: 180 MPH

The 2018 Mercedes AMG C63S was the first compact sports car from Mercedes to benefit from the brilliant M177, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8. Luckily for fans (and Mercedes), the downsized V-8 managed to fill in the shoes of the old M156 V-8 rather well. With the letter "S" added to the AMG C63, output rose from 476 horsepower to over 500.

Performance

The C205-generation C63 proves that, despite going the downsizing route, it's still a tire-shredding lunatic. The AMG C63 comes exclusively as a rear-wheel drive but still manages a 3.7-second sprint to 60 MPH, and when let loose on the Autobahn, the C63S can reach speeds that will make your hair stand on end.

RELATED: This Race Shows A Decade-Old Mercedes-AMG SL55 Can Keep Up With The Current SL55 Roadster

13 2021 Mercedes AMG SL55

Top Speed: 183 MPH

The 2021 Mercedes AMG SL brought back a few traits from old-school Mercedes SL models, such as the soft convertible top and the two-plus-two layout. Two of the three powertrain options for the AMG SL feature the M177, 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 that was first introduced in 2014 to replace the naturally-aspirated, 6.2-liter M156/M159 V-8 in the lesser, "55" version.

Performance

The twin-turbo V-8 produces almost 500 horsepower sent to all four wheels and is managed through a nine-speed, Speedshift automatic. This allows the mid-spec AMG SL to hit 60 mph in under four seconds on its way down the quarter mile strip at a speed of 114.8 MPH, with an ending time of 12 seconds flat.

12 2017 Mercedes AMG CLS 63 S 4MATIC

Top Speed: 186 MPH

Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles can help you get from 0 to 60 in the Mercedes AMG CLS 63 S 4MATIC and get you down the quarter-mile track in under 12 seconds at over 100 MPH. The all-wheel-drive system also helps you get to the finish line because of the launch benefits, but it seems like one of the most critical aspects of power is being forgotten.

Performance

The instant power and torque sent through the seven-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission helps you get out into traffic. It can also help you change lanes, pass vehicles on the highway, and get to the hospital when a baby decides it is time to be born. The AMG is not just made for racing, it is made to make your everyday life easier, and since it has the power and speed to get the job done, it is the perfect combination of performance and agility.

11 2011 Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series

Top Speed: 186 MPH

Often regarded as the last old-school C63, the 2011 Mercedes C204 C63 AMG is the epitome of German Muscle. The iconic, 6.2-liter, M156 V-8 did not require forced induction to make over 500 horsepower and 457 pound-feet in the bonkers Black Series version. This range-topping variant gave the C63 AMG fender flares, a new front splitter, canards, and a tall rear wing, all of which were made of carbon fiber.

Performance

The seven-speed DCT was recalibrated, and the suspension stiffened, but the C63 Black Series remained a tire-shredding maniac. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.0 seconds, it could give its turbocharged successor a run for its money. Despite the aggressive body kit, which increased downforce, the C63 AMG Black Series can push up to a top speed of nearly 200 MPH.

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10 2023 Mercedes AMG GT 63 S E

Top Speed:196 MPH

The first hybrid Mercedes-AMG was as big of a success as you would think it would be, maybe even more. The excess amounts of power and torque put it into a league of its own, at least when talking about 0 to 60 times. The top speed is still not good enough to take the top spot on this list, but it is getting close.

Performance

As with many modern performance vehicles, bigger is not always better. Under the hood, you will find a smaller (if you can claim it smaller) V-6 that has a turbocharger and is optimized to push out as many horses as possible. The AMG GT 63 S E also has an intercooler, a small electric motor, and an electric supercharger, all to help the car reach its top speed of just under 200 MPH.

9 2014 Mercedes AMG SLS Black Series

Top Speed: 196 MPH

The fuel-injected 32-valve V-8 under the hood was taken out of a more docile 500-horsepower Mercedes-Benz and given to the fire-breathing designers at AMG. From there, they pumped in more than 100 horses and increased the car's top speed to an almost scary (if you are not an adrenaline hound) 200 MPH. For some, that is awesome. For others, not enough, which is why there are more cars to come.

Performance

The 2014 SLS Black Series received stiffer suspension to help with high-speed handling, over 50 percent stiffer in the front and a little over 40 percent in the rear. Coilover springs can be calibrated to match the exact driving needs of each individual driver, which will shave precious seconds off track times. All in all, the Black Series was built to race, but can still carry out daily duties such as dropping kids off at school.

8 2013 Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series

Top Speed: 196 MPH

The Mercedes SLS AMG is the first Mercedes sports car, developed from ground zero by AMG. It was only natural that the Black Series treatment would eventually be bestowed upon this retro-futuristic homage to the 1954 Gullwing. The end result was a wider, lighter, stiffer, and lower variant of the sleek SLS AMG that was still road-legal, but still track-focused.

Performance

The 6.2-liter M159 V-8 remained normally aspirated but received more aggressive cams, among other improvements, in order to produce over 600 horses. The seven-speed DCT was recalibrated for snappier gear changes, and a fixed rear wing worked with the rest of the body to pull the car toward the ground at high speeds.

7 2021 Mercedes AMG SL63

Top Speed: 196 MPH

In 2021, Mercedes reintroduced the SL. The two letters stood for "Sport Licht" (Sport Light), although the last few generations were not much of either. The new R232 generation, however, changes that, as it is the first SL developed by AMG. The model is also built on the same production line as the AMG GT sports car and shares a lot of components with it, making it, by far, the sportiest Mercedes SL ever produced.

Performance

The R232 comes in three guises, with the range-topper being the AMG SL63. It comes with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 that packs over 600 horsepower. The 9G automatic and 4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard and allows the car to reach a top speed of nearly 200 MPH.

RELATED: Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster Review: A Star Is Reborn

6 2017 Mercedes AMG GTR

Top Speed: 198 MPH

The Mercedes AMG GTR was the most powerful version of the AMG GT that didn't feature a flat-plane crankshaft. The 4.0-liter, M177, twin-turbo V-8 produces anywhere from 476 in base setup to 730 horsepower in the flat-plane GT Black Series. The AMG GTR's version of the 4.0-liter unit still retained the iconic, burbling V-8 sound.

Performance

Moreover, the AMG GTR backed the aggressive tone with enough horsepower and torque to rocket this fairly heavy Mercedes-Benz down the track to 60 in just over 3 seconds and to the quarter mile mark in 11 seconds flat. The AMG GTR boasts massive power, but also, aggressive aero that helps keep it planted, which helps it reach its top speed of almost 200 MPH, which might be possible to hit with the perfect road conditions.

5 2008 Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series

Top Speed: 199 MPH

Back when the SL was a heavy, old person's GT car, it was entirely up to AMG to take the vanilla model and turn it into a proper speed lunatic. The result from one such exercise is the R230-based Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series. The mad scientists from Affalterbach took the standard behemoth of an SL65 and made it wider, lighter, and frankly, too powerful for its own good.

Performance

The 6.0-liter, M275, twin-turbo V-12 packed over 700 pound-feet of torque, which the car struggled to put to the ground. The 5G automatic was the only transmission at the time capable of holding up to the massive torque (which was electronically limited). The car's top speed of 199 MPH was limited, so the massively powered SL65 AMG Black Series's actual top speed may never be known.

RELATED: Mercedes SLS AMG Vs. Mercedes-AMG GT

4 2013 Mercedes SLS AMG GT

Top Speed: 199 MPH

In 2010, Mercedes introduced a modern homage to the 1954 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. In the coupe variant, the neo-retro sports car featured the iconic gullwing doors and a more powerful, dry-sump version of the 6.2-liter, naturally-aspirated V-8 engine. This was also the first Mercedes sports car entirely developed by AMG.

Performance

The 2013 SLS AMG GT version is the second most powerful after the track-focused Black Series, but it is the fastest, having a top speed of nearly 200 MPH. As with all SLS AMG variants, power is sent to the rear through a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic.

3 2020 Mercedes AMG GT Black Series

Top Speed: 202 MPH

In 2015, Mercedes AMG introduced a successor to the neo-retro SLS AMG. Dubbed the AMG GT, it ushered in a new age in Mercedes sports cars. It started the modern designation of the brand's performance models, with the AMG abbreviature before the model name. In many ways, this was a more focused sports car than the SLS.

Performance

The M159, 6.2-liter V-8 was replaced by the 4.0-liter, M178, twin-turbo V-8. In 2020 came the range-topping AMG GT Black Series, which also introduced a version of that engine with a flat-plane crankshaft. The AMG GT Black Series still managed a top speed of over 200 MPH despite the racetrack-optimized aggressive aerodynamics.

2 2009 Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss

Top Speed: 217 MPH

It may not be thought that one of the fastest Benz would have a completely open cockpit, but the Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss does. The top speed of over 200 miles an hour can be reached in less than one minute (faster in the right conditions), and a quarter-mile jaunt is completed in a mere 11.6 seconds with a final speed of 129.2 MPH.

Performance

The power was pushed through a five-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission and put to the ground through the rear drive tires. The SLR Stirling Moss was a limited production car, so there are not many around today, which may be why they go for around three-quarters of a million dollars when they do come up on the auction block.

1 2022 Mercedes AMG One Hybrid

Top Speed: 219 MPH

A car made for the road, designed for the track, and capable of running side by side with formula one racecars makes for one crazy fast car. To top it off, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG One is a hybrid with a 1.6-liter six-cylinder and four electric motors all working together to propel this beast down the road.

Performance

The question comes up about whether the AMG One is a racecar, supercar, sports car, or a dream. Still, either way, it is a car worth mentioning because it is one of the fastest Mercedes on the planet. That is, for now, until the gearheads at AMG come up with something faster and more exhilarating to drive.