Despite poor sales, Mercedes-Benz still has faith in the SL, so the roadster will live on for a new generation.
The successor of the current car, which has been around since 2013 and refreshed for the 2017MY, is already in development, said the company’s CEO, Dieter Zetsche, according to Autocar, during the Geneva Motor Show.
“We are working on a next generation of the SL. The plan is to make a real wow car, a stunning car”, Zetsche said. “Whenever we accomplished that in the past, the SL has had a very good performance in the market place, and that’s where we want to go.”
Further details about the new luxury roadster haven’t been disclosed, but the answer to some questions comes from a previous report, which claims that the next-gen is due in 2021. The SL is said to be developed alongside the second-gen AMG GT, which is expected to arrive one year later, and to be sportier than the current model.
In addition to extensive use of aluminum, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz SL will also get rear-wheel steering, optional air suspension, all-wheel drive and a slightly longer wheelbase to accommodate two rear seats.
Elsewhere, electrified powertrains are believed to be offered, too, and some speak about a possible plug-in hybrid variant to serve as an 800hp range-topper. However, that seems unlikely, given that the true ‘wow’ factor will be reserved for the next AMG GT. The latter’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, however, probably in a different state of tune, is expected to find its way under the new SL’s bonnet.
