More of a grand tourer than a sports-car, the Mercedes-Benz SL is doomed to change. The next generation will go under the command of AMG and will be the sportiest ever. Mercedes-Benz has asked AMG to develop the SL that will see the light of day not before 2019.
The Mercedes-Benz SL is set to undergo major changes. The Mercedes two-seater will be injected with the pure DNA of a sports car, an injection that will make it faster and more dynamic.
From the moment the AMG engineers get their hands on the SL, the roadster will be based on a new platform called modularen sportwagen architektur (MSA) that will help the convertible go on a diet in order to boost agility and fuel economy. The switch from the folding metal top to the traditional canvas one will give a helping hand in reducing weight.
According to Autocar, under the bonnet of the future SL, there will be a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six, a brand new engine expected to replace the company’s aging V6 before the end of 2016. The unit should develop 365 HP for the entry-level SL 300. The SL 400 will bring 435 HP onto the road, while the SL 500, powered by the 4.0-liter V8, will be rated at 455 HP.
As for the top of the range, the SL 63 will go as high as 500 HP, while the exhilarating SL 65 will boast no less than 621 HP, thanks to the V12 engine. The automatic transmission and the rear-wheel drive will come standard regardless of the engine output.
The 2017 model year has undergone minor changes, so there will be at least two more years after the AMG-developed SL comes into the world.
