The new Mercedes-AMG SL has been revealed and it looks phenomenal!

Just look at it! The new sleek and curvaceous Mercedes-AMG SL has arrived, in style, of course and, it’s fair to say that it looks better than ever!Itreplaces the discontinued GT Roadster and features familiar cues such as the firm’s Panamericana grille with vertical slatswhich is complemented by angular and elongated headlights units outlined with LED daytime running light strips.

The new Mercedes-AMG SL features a sleek, fluid design with V8 power under the bonnet.

Move towards the rear and the wide, flared hind quarters hint at its performance potential (more on this shortly) but is confirmed with aquad exhaust system. Also, note the flush door handles, as seen on the S-class, which are neatly hidden, giving the SL a clean, sophisticated and uncluttered appearance.

For this latest iteration of the SL, the boffsat Affalterbach have ditched the previous metal roof and instead fitted a 3-layer fabric electronic roof which saves roughly 21kg in weight. The rear window is glass though and it’s heated. The roof itself can be dropped or raised in about 15 seconds at speeds up to 50 kph.

But, if the exterior design of the new Mercedes-AMG SL hasn’t convinced you just yet, perhaps the interior will win you over…

Tech and luxury inside the new Mercedes-AMG SL

Earlier this year, Mercedes-AMG released images of the interior of the Affalterbach-division’s R232-generation SL. As expected, Benz’s iconic convertible features a 2+2 seating configuration (for the first time since the ‘90s) and its “hyperanalogue” interior is said to blend minimalism with a highly digital user experience. The SL blendsanalogue geometry with the digital world and,to put it another way, this interior design is not simply a copy-and-paste of the C-Class and S-Class cabins.

An example of this, Mercedes-AMG says, is the new SL’s digital instrument cluster, which comprises a high-resolution 12.3-inch screen integrated into a traditional cowled binnacle (as opposed to other contemporary Benz models, such as the latest C-Classsedan, which utilises a mounted rectangular panel). A head-up display, which matches the instrumentation display schemes, is optional.

Similarly, the 2-tiered dashboard is elegantly curved to incorporate the sensual, um, protrusions of the four galvanised turbine ventilation nozzles, while the almost oval-shaped metallic-trim-framed centre console juts up slightly from the transmission tunnel. The latter houses a 11.9-inch multimedia touchscreen in portrait format (okay, so the tabletis similar to the SL’s aforementioned sedan siblings).

To avoid reflections when the SL’s been driven with its roofdown, this ‘screen can be adjusted electrically into a more vertical position and the SL’s infotainment system incorporates the operating structure of the 2nd-generation MBUX system as fitted in the S-Class, but supplemented with (or replaced by) AMG-specific content and displays.

Apart from sporting matching trims and finishes to the rest of the interior (and, of course, premium Burmester speakers with decoratively perforated metal covers, the door linings are concave; their high sills are accented with decorative topstitching and run past the dashboard’s outer turbine ventilation nozzles to effectively “frame” the cockpit.

As for the 2+2 seating configuration, which last featured on the R129-generation SL (which, not coincidentally, also featured a folding soft top), Mercedes-AMG says the new SL’s rear seats can accommodate occupants of up to 1.50 metres in height (in other words, small children). It’s more likely the second row will be utilised for additional storage space (Benz says a golf bag would fit back there!) or be covered by a draught-stop to protect the back of front occupants’ necks from wind intrusion. The firm’s familiar Airscarf neck-level heating system adds further comfort.

Sports seats will be standard, while Performance seats will be optional. Customers will be able to choose between single or 2-tone Nappa leather trim (Style leather with diamond stitching is shown here), or a combination of Nappa leather with Dinamica Race microfibre and contrasting topstitching in yellow or red. Last, but not least, occupants can choose from no fewer than 64 colours of ambient lighting.

What engines are offered for the new Mercedes-AMG SL?

Choose your power flavour. SL 55 or SL 63?

A twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine will do service under the bonnet of the new SL and it will be offered in 2 states of tune in the form of the SL 55 and the SL 63. Further powertrain options are expected in due course including a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and possibly a mild-hybrid V6.

The base SL 55 will offer outputs of 350 kW and 700 Nm while the SL 63 packs more heat with 430 kW and 800 Nm. A 9-speed automatic transmission (with launch control) is, for the first time, linked to Merc’s 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system with variable torque distribution. An electronically controlled rear limited-slip differential is standard on the SL 63 (optional on the SL 55) which aids traction and stability while rear-wheel steering further enhances handling ability at high speed as well as manoeuvrability at low speed.

As for performance, the SL 55 will sprint from zero to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds while the SL 63 shaves that down to 3.6 seconds.

Local availability of the new Mercedes-AMG SL has yet to be confirmed but 2022 is likely, which is soon…

Buy a used Mercedes-Benz SL on Cars.co.za

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