2021 should be the year that Mercedes-Benz will unveil a brand new generation of the SL. And by brand new, we mean it literally: new design, new technologies, new drivers. The roadster is still in the development phase and these are the latest spy photos that show the progress so far.
Fortunately, Mercedes is finally starting to test cars that are slightly less disguised than the prototypes previously spied on. This one still has a camouflage foil for the whole body, but at least some parts of the car are more exposed than before.
32 Photos
At the front, for example, the radiator grille is partially visible and the lower part of the buffer shows its soft diffusion more clearly. At the back, the fake ducktail-like spoiler is gone, offering a cleaner and slimmer look. The quad exhaust arrangement is also different on this prototype, but we can not say whether this is the final setup at this stage.
The new SL will combine a design inspired by the original 300 SL with advanced drivetrains and chassis technologies developed directly by AMG. This is the first time that the brand’s performance division has been involved in the development of the SL and that people from Affalterbach are believed to be working on a number of engine options, including a flagship plug-in hybrid variant.
This model, tentatively called the SL73e 4MATIC + hybrid, will reportedly couple a V8 twin-turbo engine with an electric motor for 800 horsepower (596 kilowatts) and 738 pounds (1000 Newtons of torque). meter). Among them, the SL63 offers a more purist experience thanks to a twin-turbo V8 without electric support and a peak capacity of 612 hp (453 kW).
Since Mercedes is testing a bit less camouflaged prototypes of the new SL, let’s believe that the company is progressing with the development and that everything should be on track later for a full debut. However, sales will not start until early 2022.