Rumors have swirled about the next-generation
SL-Class, and now Mercedes-AMG head Tobias Moers has confirmed development
is underway with direct oversight from AMG.
The information comes from a Thursday AutoCar report.
It marks the first time AMG has overseen the SL-Class, and it means the
next-generation model will have an inherently sportier and performance-oriented
character. The plan to take the SL-Class into new performance realms spurred
Mercedes-Benz to hand development over to AMG exclusively. Moers added the
SL-Class and next AMG GT will share a platform: the Modular Sports
Architecture.
The move to share a platform should help Mercedes-Benz
increase economies of scale and profitability.
Moers said he's honored the brand he oversees has been
tasked with the development of the next SL and the division isn't taking it
lightly. He said the next car will bring back the "historic
DNA" found in the SL-Class, which dates back to the beloved Gullwing
models of the 1950s. Autocar also reported the next SL-Class will
revert to a soft-top roof instead of the hard-top it has used for recent
generations. The move will reduce weight in AMG's mission to make the convertible
lighter, faster, and more engaging to drive.
Platform sharing should lead to numerous shared components
between the AMG GT and SL-Class. The suspension, steering systems, 48-volt
electrical system, and hybrid drivetrains should all be common between the two
cars. The MSA architecture reportedly has done good things for the SL's
proportions and design, too. We should expect a longer hood and a cabin pushed
further back to emphasize the car's proportions. The soft-top roof has also
reportedly opened up more freedom for the car's rear end styling.
When the SL debuts, expect a hybridized lineup of
powertrains. At the bottom of the hierarchy will likely be a turbocharged
3.0-liter inline-6 aided by Mercedes' EQ Boost system. It will be used in the
SL450 model and make 365 horsepower with an additional 22 hp from the hybrid
system to aid acceleration. An AMG-tuned SL53 version of the powertrain will
reportedly bump power to 430 hp. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 isn't going
anywhere, however, and should also benefit from electrification. The V-8 will
provide a gateway to a more powerful SL-Class with more than 600 hp.
A previous report also noted a possible turbocharged V-8
paired to electric motors with an output of 805
hp, though AutoCar didn't confirm that powertrain.
We'll likely learn more about the new SL-Class in the near
future. Prototypes will hit the roads for testing this year, per Moers, and the
car should launch no later than 2021.
by Sean Szymkowski
http://www.boscheuropean.com
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