Mercedes’ SL sportscar is one of the longest surviving badges in the automotive world. It has a history that stretches back almost 70 years. Several generations of SL have existed over the decades, the most famous being the 300SL “Gullwing”.  Now the eighth generation Mercedes-AMG SL undergoes testing ahead of its debut later this year.

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There hasn’t been much information released regarding the SL’s technical side but the company has confirmed that its in-house performance division AMG will be responsible for the car’s development. As such the upcoming SL will only be available in AMG guise. Mercedes has also announced that, for the first time, the SL will be offered with an all-wheel-drive 4Matic system with variable torque split. 

In part, that is why the Mercedes-AMG SL undergoes testing in cold climates, to tune the car’s responses in slippery conditions. Mercedes-AMG engineers have been conducting tests on a special, closed-off proving ground in snowy Sweden. Other dynamic testing has taken place on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (as you can see in the video below). 

True to form

Sticking to its roots the R232 series Mercedes-AMG SL will still be a 2+2-seater. It will still offer a folding roof but the hard-top of the previous model has been replaced by a fabric roof. The new roof is also the reason the engineering teams were in the harsh climate of the Arctic to test its ability to handle extreme weather. The long bonnet and cab-back proportions give us the impression that the new SL may be fitted with the company’s ubiquitous 4,0-litre twin-turbocharged V8.