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Mercedes’ performance division AMG has been tasked with developing the next generation of SL-Class, alongside the next Mercedes-AMG GT. Speaking to Auto Express at the New York Motor Show, Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG, revealed that development work on the […]
Mercedes’ performance division AMG has been tasked with developing the next generation of SL-Class, alongside the next Mercedes-AMG GT.
Speaking to Auto Express at the New York Motor Show, Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG, revealed that development work on the new SL was well underway, that it will feature hybrid engines and that we’ll see prototypes out and about later this year.
• New Mercedes GLS revealed in New York
“Handing over the SL for the next generation to AMG, as a performance and sports car brand, is great,” said Moers. “There’s lots of responsibility behind that, maybe honour. It shows that we’re not doing such a bad job!
“This is a programme that’s really intense. The new SL aligned with maybe the next generation of GT – that’s an intense programme. You’re going to see prototypes later this year.”
Moers also revealed that the next SL will be a more dynamically-focused car, as with SLs of old. “The SL in the past was a really important car for us,” he told us.
“In 2002/03 when we brought out the V8 Kompresser engine… it was a handful! Driving it today, and I did that just recently, I thought ‘was that our driving dynamics back in the days?’
“I think it’s time to change a little bit the attitude of SL and bring back a bit of the history of this touring DNA of SL; make it sportier, and other things.”
“The key is that we will have the perfect compromise between driving dynamics and comfort, because it’s still kind of a cruiser and we know that.”
The new SL will be available only as a roadster, with Mercedes-AMG also feeding into the look of the new car. “We made things happen that maybe were not achievable if it would not be in our hands – we are always stretching the boundaries,” said Moers.
“If Gorden [Wagener, Mercedes’ Chief Design Officer] comes up with an idea, we always try to make it happen – it’s up to us both to sort it out and find a compromise.”
This isn’t the first time that Mercedes-AMG has led a Mercedes project, as Moers explained: “We designed everything for the G-Wagen, the whole suspension, axles, everything was done by AMG.”
Moers also revealed that the new SL will feature electrified powertrains, although the new GT 4-door will be the first AMG model to arrive as a plug-in hybrid.
“Beyond ’21 there will be no car from AMG that will not have an electrified powertrain – hybrid will become more and more important,” he said.
“How can the performance car segment survive in the future if you’re not going to use electrified powertrains? I think the share of high voltage electrified powertrains in the performance segment is higher than in other segments – then we have purely electric sports cars, too.”
Moers also revealed that Mercedes-AMG plug-ins are likely to use their electric motors continually to boost power. “What we’ll do with our performance hybrids is have a different attitude,” he said.
“We have to make sure our we must have an always on strategy – it’s a combined situation, we must always have the combustion engine and electric power otherwise the car is not having its full potential.”
With the SL-Class traditionally having slightly longer life cycles than other cars in the Mercedes model range, we wouldn’t expect a new car to arrive much before 2022, with its Mercedes-AMG GT sister car following shortly after.
Are you looking forward to seeing the next Mercedes SL? Let us know your thoughts below…