The chief designer of the company promises that Sport Leicht will have a bright future.
The Jaguar E-Type is considered the most beautiful car in the auto industry. But, for me, it would be the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. The next-generation SL will bring the coupe’s spirit back to life. Gorden Wagener, Mercedes chief designer, gave some details about the new Sport Leicht in an interview with CarAdvice.
Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche said that the revamped SL would be a ” real WOW car, a stunning vehicle,” and Wagener believes the grand tourer’s future looks “very, very bright.” The new SL will try to evoke the spirit Gullwing. Wagener has been working with Mercedes since 1992, but this is his first appearance on the SL.
Although the production car won’t have the gullwing doors that were on the AMG Black Series, there is a design study that could. The Mercedes man in charge of design said that the new SL will not be a modern interpretation or retro-inspired design. It will, however, borrow the “DNA” and spirit of the original 300 SL, which was unveiled in February 1954 at New York’s International Motor Sports Show. This is two years after its namesake race car.
The exact launch date of the new SL is unknown, but recent intel suggests that it will be available as soon as next year. It will use the same aluminum-intensive platform used for the next-generation AMGGT. Rumours suggest Mercedes is developing a 2+2 layout with electrified six and eight-cylinder engines and an optional 4Matic in addition to the standard RWD setup. Mercedes has stated that the V12 engine of the mighty Mercedes SL 65 will remain with Maybach models.