That’s it.
The next generation of Mercedes’ legendary roadster, the Benz SL, will soon be gone. It has been designed by the go-faster division based out of Affalterbach. A public reveal is possible, considering that our spy team spotted a prototype production-ready near the Nurburgring without 99 percent of the camouflage.
Although there is some disguise at the rear and front fascias as well as the lights, it doesn’t hide anything significant. Sport Leicht’s new model is proud to display the pop-out door handles seen on recent Mercs and a fabric roof that SL used last for the R129 generation between 1989 and 2001.
The new soft-top cabrio is sportier and more modern than the aging R231 and will also play a dual role, as the new SL was developed to replace the GT Roadster. The front is dominated by a Panamericana grille, flanked by elegant headlights that match other products bearing the three-pointed star.
While the long hood remains true to SL heritage, the overall proportions of performance cabrio will be unchanged. However, the next-gen model will share very few similarities with its predecessor in terms underpinnings. AMG already stated that the 2+2 model will not share any parts with the GT Roadster or SL.
Expect to see a mixture of six- and eight-cylinder engines, with the possibility of an electrified V8 engine. The SL will need to accommodate the GT 63E Performance’s complex PHEV configuration. There are also some packaging limitations that may limit its ability. We’ll remind you that the GT 4-Door Coupe, which has an incredible 831 horsepower (620 Kilowatts) as well as 1,033 pound feet (1,400 Newton-meters), will be the roadster.
Mercedes-AMG may decide to sell the SL equipped with four-cylinder engines in certain markets that have high taxes. This is already happening with other higher-spec models, such as the CLS260 that was sold in China with a tiny 1.5-liter gasoline engine. The prototype seen here is likely to be a top-tier model, given the grille and the menacing quad exhausts.
The world premiere of the new SL could be in the next few weeks, considering that most of the mascara has been removed and the interior is fully revealed. Mercedes’ stand was packed with the EQE and AMG EQS concepts, Maybach EQS SUV, and the EQG concept at the IAA in Munich this month.