While they might look like the latest batch of spy shots, these pictures are actually official test images supplied by Mercedes alongside confirmation that the all-new SL is incoming. It’s been in the unofficial pipeline for a while, or rather since we spotted that weird, cut-and-shut E-Class early last year. But today’s announcement is the first to come from the horse’s mouth: the SL will be revealed in 2021 before arriving in Britain towards the end of the year. Exciting.
While Mercedes has refrained from confirming anything else, it’s widely thought that the new roadster will depart from the outgoing R231 SL and become a 2+2 with a more sporting focus. This is expected to come as a result of AMG’s involvement, with the performance division apparently building the SL on the new Modular Sports Architecture (MSA) that will eventually be shared with the GT's successor. If the internet is to be believed, it’ll get lots of aluminium to lower the centre of gravity and reduce overall weight.
Do these official images confirm or deny any of that? No, not really. But the clear space visible behind the driver’s headrest and Merc’s decision to blank off the rear section of roof at least suggests there could be space for a brace of modest seats back there. Moreover the car’s proportions do, from what we can make out, appear to be different to anything else in the Mercedes line-up, making the presence of AMG-developed architecture credible enough.
The squared-off, quad-exit exhausts fitted to one of the test cars suggest AMG has kicked-off road development with the ‘hot vee’ 4.0-litre V8. That would certainly fit the bill for a model tasked with upping the driver appeal, alongside predictable upgrades in luxury and cabin tech. Of course, smaller capacity engines are inevitable; we’d be surprised to not see Merc’s inline six offered, as well as hybrid powerplants; a hybrid V8 badged as a 73e would help to fill the void left by the departed SL65 V12.
Doubtless we'll know more before the end of the year, but speculation that the next SL is set to take the badge where it's never been before seems to be on the money, and we'd be lying if we said the thought of an additional lineup of AMG sports cars didn't have us intrigued. The first one was pretty good, after all...
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