BERLIN — Mercedes-Benz is given the famed SL an AMG badge after upgrading the roadster with all-wheel drive, a stiffer body structure and powerful engines.
The latest generation of the Porsche 911 fighter, unveiled Thursday, is the first SL created by the brand’s AMG performance division. It will be sold exclusively as a Mercedes-AMG model and go on sale in the U.S. in the first half of 2022.
In a major change, the Mercedes-AMG SL also gets a soft top roof, replacing the previous generation’s hard top, and a 2+2 seating configuration.
The roadster is underpinned by Mercedes’ lightweight composite aluminum Modular Sports Architecture. The torsional rigidity of the body shell structure is increased 18 percent and, together with the low center of gravity, the construction gives the car outstanding driving dynamics, Mercedes said in a statement.
The SL will be launched with AMG’s 4.0-liter V-8 twin-turbocharged engine with power outputs of 585 hp and 476 hp.
The 585-hp top model accelerates from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds and has a 315 kph (196 mph) top speed, Mercedes said. The two models are equipped with all-wheel drive technology standard.
A hybrid drivetrain will be added later, the company said.
The SL is also equipped with standard active rear-axle steering. Depending on the speed, the rear wheels steer either in the opposite direction or in the same direction as the front wheels to give the roadster agile and stable handling characteristics, Mercedes said.
“The new SL combines the sporty genes of the original SL with the driving performance typical of AMG,” Mercedes-AMG Chairman Philipp Schiemer said in the statement.
The decision to equip the SL with a soft top instead of the previous metal roof resulted in weight savings of about 43 lbs., or 21 kg, which when combined with a lower center of gravity, will have a positive effect on driving dynamics and handling, Mercedes said.
A two-piece, active air control system, consisting of vertical louvers hidden behind the lower air intake in the front apron and horizontal louvers located behind the upper air intake, also reduce drag and front lift.
The redeveloped AMG braking system uses lighter, more compact composite brake discs, and six AMG Dynamic Select driving modes enable a wide range of vehicle characteristics.
Driver- assistance systems include attention assist, which can recognize typical signs of drowsiness and driver inattention, active lane keeping assist, traffic sign assist, active steering assist, and active blind spot assist, among others. The SL also comes equipped with the company’s Digital Light headlamp technology, which can project warning symbols onto the road surface, aim a spotlight at pedestrians detected at the roadside as a warning, and offer assistance on narrow road lanes by projecting guidelines onto the road surface.
The second-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system, which debuted in the new Mercedes S-Class, has AMG-specific content in the SL with menu items such as “AMG Performance” and “AMG TRACK PACE.”
It provides intuitive operating options and many digital services from Mercedes me connect, accessed through the touchscreen or touch control buttons on the steering wheel. The system also allows smartphone integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a hands-free system via Bluetooth connection.
Navigation with Live Traffic Information and Car-to-X communication lets connected vehicles exchange information about traffic events and offers drivers real-time traffic data. Available parking spaces on public roads are shown with availability forecasts.
Customization is another key element, with three exterior design packages available, 12 paint colors, three roof color variants and numerous new wheel designs.