Mercedes is preparing to give the SL roadster a more traditional grand-touring character as part of a mid-life update to its sports car line-up, creating a clearer distinction between the fabric-roof roadster and its hard-top GT sibling.
The shift in emphasis follows feedback from buyers who consider the seventh-generation model, developed for the first time by Mercedes-AMG, too firmly focused on performance at the expense of the refinement and long-distance cruising ability.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius confirmed the change to Autocar, saying the revised SL, due for launch in 2027, is going to be “more of a Mercedes-Benz”.
In preparation for its introduction, a prototype version of the new 2+2 was recently revealed at an event in Berlin.
Among the changes planned is a return of the Mercedes-Benz badge for the SL, alongside more powerful AMG versions.
The standard SL will receive its own front-end styling, dispensing with AMG's Panamericana grille in favour of a more conventional Mercedes-Benz grille treatment, insiders revealed.
Underneath, it is planned to receive detailed tweaks to its suspension aimed at improving ride comfort and refinement.
The GT, meanwhile, will remain the more overtly sporting member of the pair, with its fixed roof and independent suspension tuning aimed at providing it with a more sporting driving experience despite the two cars sharing the same platform, drivetrains and other key components.
Both are set to receive revised engines that meet Euro 7 emissions regulations.
The existing turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the SL43 and GT43 has already been discontinued, to be replaced by an updated version of Merc's turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six producing 443bhp in a new SL500 4Matic+. The V8 models will switch from the existing M177 engine to the reworked M177 Evo, as used by the latest S-Class and the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.
The principal change to the twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 is the adoption of a flat-plane crankshaft in place of the current cross-plane arrangement, helping it meet tighter emissions limits without a significant reduction in power.
Both the six-cylinder and reworked V8 are combined with a 48V integrated starter-generator producing 23bhp and 151lb ft, mounted within the housing of the SL and GT’s nine-speed automatic gearbox.
