Mercedes appears to have shifted development of its all-new SL roadster into high gear with an increasing number of prototypes being captured testing on both public roads and, in this case, the Nurburgring race track. For the first time in its illustrious history, the SL will be developed by (and, consequently branded as a) Mercedes-AMG. [Updated 10/14/2020]
The latest prototype looks the same as other previously-spied (and teased) SL testers. The only things that are different, aside from the quad pipes, is the camouflage pattern on the roof and the wheels.
In fact, one of these prototypes were testing with two different wheel designs. The ones at the rear feature a 5-single spoke aesthetic, while the front wheels boast a 5-dual spoke look.
Read: All-New 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL Rendered Based On Spy Images
This next iteration of the SL will feature the same platform as the Mercedes-AMG GT, something AMG boss Tobias Moers already confirmed.
“We’re bringing back the historic DNA of the SL,” he said last year. “It’s far sportier [this time around]. It will have a perfect compromise between driving dynamics and comfort, because it’s still kind of a cruiser too.”
Aside from the common architecture, the SL and GT are also expected to share axle assemblies, suspensions, steering systems, the 48V electric architecture and hybrid powertrains. Both will be built alongside each other at the German carmaker’s plant in Sindelfingen, Germany.
Meanwhile, a source told Autocar that the new SL was designed to feature a longer hood and a more rearward-positioned cabin.
“The new platform has given us more freedom,” said the source. “There’s more distance between the front axle and the front firewall. This gives it more traditional proportions.”
What powertrains to expect
The range could kick off with an SL 43 variant with a 3.0-liter straight-six that should be tweaked to produce more than the 367hp we see in other Mercedes models it’s used in. It will likely be followed by the SL 53 and 53e sporting a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six, the latter with an additional electric compressor, delivering at least 440 horses.
Next up will be SL 63 / 63 S (two stages of tune), with the latter rumored to have a 604 HP twin-turbo V8, although no specs have been made official at this time. Another rumor concerns the availability of an insanely powerful SL 73e model pairing the SL 63’s turbocharged V8 with electric motors on both axles producing 800-horsepower or possibly even more.
