Is the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster Going Anywhere?

The iconic Mercedes SL roadster doesn’t seem like it’s going away. Ever. In fact, a lot more is afoot.

The SL roadster is an automotive icon not just for Mercedes-Benz but also for the automotive world. From the Super Leicht 190 SL and glorious 300 SL Gullwing Coupé from 66 years ago to the later generation models – the massive 7.3-litre V12-powered SL 73 AMG, the even more mental carbon-fixed-roof, 670-hp/1,000-Nm, biturbo-V12-powered SL 65 AMG Black Series – to the present model, still going forward with engines a few years old, without substantial update, the SL roadster has carved a niche for itself.

The present model has been around for some time, powered by a choice of biturbo V6 in the SL 400 (SL 450 in the US) and a biturbo V8 in the SL 500 (SL 550 in the US), with the top-of-the-range model being the AMG SL 63. The only change on that one has been the “AMG” and “SL 63” badging switching sides on the boot-lid.

That said, the SL roadster is set for a major overhaul.
One: the next-generation model is being developed exclusively by AMG in Affalterbach.
Two: the ’73’ badge rights have been sought for.
And, three: it could well be an EQ Power plug-in hybrid with Formula 1 tech paired to a massive 4.0-litre biturbo V8.
Put those altogether and the possibility of the 815-hp hybrid powertrain, first showcased in concept form in the car that became the AMG GT 4-Door Coupé, could see the light of day and light up the road as well. What could it have?

For starters, there is the next-generation hybrid system complete with a hybrid automatic transmission housing a powerful motor. The most powerful example of that is in the GLE 350 de 4MATIC plug-in hybrid, with a 100-kW example adding 136 hp and 440 Nm – enough output to give a regular sedan adequate performance without even considering the combustion motor. Now, the GLE 350 de uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. So, imagine the possibilities when the e-motor is larger than 100 kW, and the 2.0 diesel is replaced with a 4.0 biturbo V8 petrol.

That 4.0 V8 is already doing duty in M176, M177 and M178 guises in everything from the C 63 S and G 500 to the Maybach GLS 600 and AMG GT 4-Door Coupé – with between 422 and 639 hp. For the all-new AMG SL 73,we believe a new, bespoke version with between 612 and 639 hp will be used together with an e-motor. Regardless of what comes next, the predictions, with present hardware, point to an SL roadster with a 639-hp V8 joined by a 100-kW (136 hp) electric motor, for roughly 775 hp and – only theoretically –  1,340 Nm of peak torque. Now, consider the sort of hardware Lewis Hamilton race car the for-the-road AMG Project One have and there may be an indication of what more we can expect from the performance giants. Watch this space.

Here’s an indication of how much the Mercedes SL roadster has changed over the years:

The monstrous SL 73 AMG stood out then, and the fifth-gen R230 SL is here because it was the first SL to be officially sold in India, as was the supercharged V8-powered SL 55 AMG Kompressor later on.

The SL 65 AMG Black Series, though not a roadster with its fixed roof, remains the most powerful SL to date. The present SL 400 represents the entry to the hallowed badge from the revered brand. An update will bring in the new in-line six EQ Boost engine.

The top two at present are V8-powered and are expected to get the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo petrol in the next coming.

Tags: car, convertible, icon, india, mercedes, Mercedes SL, mercedes-benz, sl class, SL roadster, sports car