Spy images depicting the next-gen SL date
back to January of this year, only then we didn’t know that the car would wear
a Mercedes-AMG moniker, which is only fitting since it will be developed by the
German firm’s performance division. Since then, we’ve seen the all-new SL
multiple times and it’s been the same story over and over – heavy camouflage
from bumper to bumper in an attempt to stop prying eyes from figuring out the
overall shape or the design language.
Often, when you’ve seen enough spy images
and you know what you’re looking at, you can make some assumptions regarding
what a brand new model is going to look like. In case of the SL, we feel Kolesa
did as well as can be expected with these renderings, especially the car’s
profile.
The long hood is obvious and was never in
question, but the exact design of the headlights remains a best guess, as does
the grille, which in reality might even be a bit smaller than the one seen here
in this speculative ender. The profile however makes sense as is, with an
upwards swinging build-up towards the rear, which appears to incorporate a
ducktail design of sorts. As for the taillights, their positioning appears
accurate, but the actual shape and graphics remain in question.
Aside from ditching its metal roof in
favor of a soft-top, the all-new 2022 SL will be built on the same Modular
Sports Architecture (MSA) as the next-gen GT sports car, yet unlike the GT, the
SL will look to strike the perfect balance between sportiness and cruising
comfort.
The engine range could include a 429 HP
3.0-liter six-cylinder unit, a 515 HP twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and a 604 HP V8
for the SL 63 variant, although nothing has been announced. Since we’re
speculating, a new SL 73 plug-in hybrid flagship with up to 800 HP could make
its appearance as well, as this setup will be coming to the AMG GT later this
year.
