The CEO of Mercedes-Benz confirms a new "sportier" SL Roadster

The Mercedes-Benz SL may have lost some of its charm but, as confirmed by the CEO of the German brand, it will not suffer the same fate as the Mercedes-Benz SLC. Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, stated in an interview with Autocar that AMG would be responsible for developing the eighth generation of the model, which will take the form of a roadster, and added that it will be “aligned” with the second-generation Mercedes-Benz AMG GT.

Taking these words as a guide, it would not be surprising if the future Mercedes-Benz SL turned out to be “much sportier” than its predecessor. However, according to Tobias Moers, it will not be a full sports car, as “it is still a kind of cruiser”.

This means that AMG would have a tough task: improving the performance of the Mercedes-Benz SL without sacrificing its comfort. Although the CEO of the German marque did not go into much detail, he did confirm that the car will begin to be seen on the roads toward the end of this same year.

Some sources suggest the production model will arrive relatively soon, as the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL is scheduled for 2021.

A sportier Mercedes-Benz AMG SL

As part of the effort to make the new Mercedes-Benz SL sportier, the vehicle will be developed on a new modular platform called Modular Sports Architecture (MSA), which it will share with the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Weight savings do not stop with the use of a new platform, as the future next-generation SL is expected not to feature a retractable hard top.

Instead, it will have a lighter fabric roof that is better integrated into the vehicle’s design. For now, the possible engines have not been confirmed, but everything points to a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbo engine capable of producing around 436 CV. It would also be programmed to fit EQ Boost technology, which can add another 22 CV.

Some sources also suggest there could be as many as three different models with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. The most powerful version could have over 600 CV. This is not unfeasible, as the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S produces 630 CV.

Mercedes-Benz SL: returning to its historic DNA

The powertrains chosen, as the CEO of the star brand stated in the interview, could be offered with all-wheel drive. This, together with the new 2+2 seating layout, could make the model more competitive than the Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

Moers also pointed out that “we are recovering the historic DNA of the SL.” “It is much sportier. It will have a perfect balance between driving dynamics and comfort, since it is also a kind of cruiser.” Importantly, this is the first time the brand’s performance division has overseen the development of a Mercedes-Benz SL. “There is a lot of responsibility behind that, and I feel very honoured,” the CEO concluded.