The Next SL Will Have Room for the Kiddos

2017 Mercedes-Benz SL550 (Credit: © Mercedes-Benz)

Since its debut decades ago, the SL has long touted itself as a luxurious sports tourer convertible with room for just two. Now, a new report from Autobild claims that the next-gen SL will gain a few extra seats.

Per the report, the upcoming SL will move from its S-Class-based underpinning and to a new modular sports car architecture, which will also underpin the next-gen GT. This flexible mid-engine chassis will not only make the SL even sportier than it is now, but it’ll also open the droptop to hauling a total of four people, thanks to a 2+2 seating arraignment.

The reason for this reported move to a four-seat setup is because the S-Class Coupe will soon be no more, leaving a massive gap in the lineup.

Because it’ll take the place of the flagship four-seat coupe, the SL must retain its folding metal roof instead of going to a fabric top like previously rumored. This folding roof will give the new SL a hybrid feel between the current two-seat model and the outgoing S-Class Coupe.

As for variants, look for the new SL to arrive in SL300 and SL400 models. The former will use a 365-horsepower V-6 while the latter will make use of a 435-horsepower 4.0-liter V-8. There is also a report that we’ll see the first-ever all-wheel-drive SL-Class in this new generation, thanks to its shared MSA underpinning.

For now, this remains purely a rumor, but keep it locked here for updates.