Over the span of six decades and six generations of SL models, only the last two iterations of Mercedes’ flagship roadster (since 2001) have been offered with a retractable metal top. All the other models featured a traditional cloth top. Now, a new report from Germany says that the era of foldable hardtops for the SL may end with the next generation expected in 2021.
According to German magazine Autobild, roadster sales are falling worldwide and Mercedes plans to address this problem by cutting and sharing development costs between models, starting with a new common platform named MSA for the SL and SLK, which makes sense.
Losing the hardtop for the SL also makes sense under this new approach, but what doesn’t is the fact that, the magazine says the next SLK, scheduled for release in 2020, will retain the hardtop solution.
The (partial) explanation given in the report for why the SL will have a ragtop is that Mercedes plans to re-invent the roadster to justify its name that is derived from the German words Sport Leicht or Sport Lightweight. We could add to that reasoning the existence of the upcoming S-Class Convertible (officially confirmed), which would render a more luxury-orientated SL obsolete.
