Mercedes To Hark Back To Roots With Next Gen SL - Do You Approve?

The next Mercedes-Benz SL, which is due to be revealed next year, will hark back to the original model of the 1950s more than any generation that followed, according to Daimler’s chief design officer.

Speaking to Autocar, Gorden Wagener admitted that he’s “not a fan of retro designs”, so the new SL won’t wholly revive the two-seat, gullwing look of the formative car. However, he said that the SL is moving away from the GT-style roadster ethos of the past few decades, returning to its sporting roots. To this end, AMG is heavily involved in its development.

“For me, the most beautiful SL is the original, the 300,” said Wagener. “And I think we’ve taken some of that DNA, starting with the proportions, the surface treatment, things like that. In that respect, the new SL is probably the closest to the first one ever.”

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MDarringer - 5/25/2020 11:00:24 AM

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Why does Mercedes need the SL and the AMGGT?

Car4life1 - 5/25/2020 1:02:48 PM

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While Mercedes is returning the SL to it’s sporting roots, it still has to be refined sporting roots, this allows the AMG GT, to become an all out balls to the wall hooligan, leaving refinement to the SL and moving closer to Black series territory

carloslassiter - 5/25/2020 11:27:26 AM

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Because not everyone wants to play boy racer.

MDarringer - 5/25/2020 11:49:56 AM

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Pay attention. They are taking the SL away from luxo convertible to go golfing in and focusing it more on the essence of what the AMG already is.

bmw7er - 5/25/2020 11:36:44 AM

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The SL was always nearly perfect, until they made it sickeningly ugly. It's hard to come back from that.

MDarringer - 5/25/2020 11:50:47 AM

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They should recast the SL into a true 4-place luxoboat convertible given that the AMGGT exists.

cidflekken - 5/26/2020 5:02:00 PM

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And even "sickening ugly" it still outsold the Lexus LC.

MDarringer - 5/26/2020 6:22:35 PM

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The LC was priced $25K too high which is why is was so easy to get it for $25K off LOL.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 5/25/2020 1:06:41 PM

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They won't change the SL to a 4 seat car, but it should stay in its lane and be a cruiser for an older client who likes to golf. A lighter car with a fabric roof is the route I would take. I would like to see it under 4,000lbs.

SuperCarEnthusiast - 5/25/2020 2:23:08 PM

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SL retro looks great! But for $100K+, I would go with a luxury SUV!

ricks0me - 5/25/2020 5:31:51 PM

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Mercedes To Hark Back To Roots With Next Gen SL - Do You Approve?

I would approve, if MB does it correctly.

MDarringer - 5/25/2020 6:16:24 PM

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Given the boring botch job on the S Class, don't get too excited.

Section_31_JTK - 5/25/2020 9:47:54 PM

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Hopefully they don't bring back the boat tail design of the 190 and 300 SL and combine it with an ugly face. What they need is a much higher performance car that still rides well, is a two seater, and has a retractable hard top. Make it look sexy and it will sell.

MDarringer - 5/25/2020 10:07:12 PM

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Well the ugly Maybach convertible was just that the "boat tail design of the 190 and 300 SL and combine it with an ugly face."

valhallakey - 5/25/2020 11:39:13 PM

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The 300SL was a beautiful car. I would say that design is a good place to start when imagining the new SL.

MDarringer - 5/26/2020 10:40:32 AM

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I'd go with the "pagoda" SLs.

xjug1987a - 5/28/2020 12:02:26 PM

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Matt’s right the new SL needs to go modern Pagoda. Make it gorgeous... wonder what body color wheels might look like?

cidflekken - 5/26/2020 5:10:34 PM

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It makes sense, but it still needs to be softer than the AMG GT Roadster. Maybe the relationship with the GT will be similar to the CLS and AMG GT 4-DR. The SL may not get all-out AMG versions..