The next-generation Mercedes-Benz SL – or should that be Mercedes-AMG SL – has been spied wearing almost no disguise.
The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL63 is expected to debut before the end of 2021. Under the skin it’ll also form the basis of the next Mercedes-AMG GT sports car rival to the Porsche 911.
As we already know, the latest SL will bid adieu to the folding hardtop of the current car as it transforms from a grand tourer into something more befitting of the Super-Leicht badge.
In keeping with the latest crop of Mercedes-Benz models, the new SL has slimmer lights and smoother lines than the current model. There’s also a hint of AMG GT in its rear haunches.
Power will reportedly come from a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six or 4.0-litre V8. Both will be fitted with a 48V electrical system and a mild-hybrid setup.
Given it rides on big wheels, packs oversized brakes, and has the now-standard AMG Panamericana Grille up front (not to mention the prominent chrome exhaust pipes at the rear), it’s easy to assume this is the V8-powered SL63
Unlike the current car, and most generations before it, the new SL will feature two rear seats inside for increased practicality. They’re claimed to accommodate passengers up to 1.5m tall.
The addition of a second row of seats has some precedent in the SL’s 66-year history.
In its second generation, the SL was available with a hard top and a fold-down rear bench that was about as comfortable as that sounds.
The following R107 generation introduced a coupe variant, the SLC, which also featured a second row of seats.
Mercedes-AMG has already revealed the interior of the first SL it’s developed in-house, which has more than a hint of S-Class plus a massive, adjustable touchscreen.
The 2022 Mercedes-AMG SL features a portrait-oriented 11.9-inch touchscreen for its infotainment system, which can be adjusted electrically for either a more slanted or upright orientation.
While much of the MBUX system is similar to the S-Class, Mercedes-AMG has included some of its own specific content like Performance and Track Pace menus.
Ahead of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that’s been integrated into the dash, instead of being a free-standing unit, to help prevent reflections caused by sunlight. You’ll be able to toggle between multiple different layouts.
There’s an available head-up display, as well as ambient interior lighting with up to 64 selectable colours and a Burmester sound system.
The dashboard has a two-tier look, with the tiers separated by ambient lighting accents and the upper tier punctuated by four large, turbine-style air-conditioning vents.
The centre console rises sharply to meet the large central touchscreen.
