Next Mercedes-Benz SL Could Have Four Seats

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz SL is expected to morph into a four seater, as the German firm looks to differentiate it from the new AMG GT Convertible.

When Mercedes initially launched the GT sports car, many speculated that it wouldn’t receive a droptop variant to avoid poaching sales from the SL. However, just a few short months ago, the GT Convertible arrived meaning the automaker will have to overhaul the next-gen SL and target it towards different buyers.

According to a report from German publication Auto Bild, that will involve making it slightly larger to accommodate rear seats. Additionally, there’s a possibility the new SL will be offered with an all-wheel drive system, but likely retain a rear-wheel drive configuration as standard.

Of course, all this raises the question how Mercedes will differentiate a possible 2+2 seater SL from the smaller E-Class Convertible and the larger S-Class Convertible other than their size.

It is thought that the new SL will arrive sometime in 2020 and that when it does, it will feature a refreshed engine line-up. That could include the availability of the 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six of the impending facelifted S-Class as well as AMG’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in SL63 guise, in favor of the 5.5-liter mill currently used.

Despite the downsizing of the V8, the future SL65 may retain the firm’s range-topping 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with over 600 hp.