AMG confirms new SL Roadster testing with 'spy' pics

Mercedes-Benz has released what resemble spy shots of its own upcoming SL Roadster, which it confirms is now undertaking public road testing.

These latest photos show Mercedes-AMG engineers undertaking winter testing in Sweden. The next-gen SL can be seen performing long powerslides in order to calibrate the 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system, an option for the first time on the SL Roadster.

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With little information coming from HQ about the new model, the acknowledgement and snippet of information is a refreshing change.

“The next generation of the legendary SL Roadster is going back to its roots, which lay in motorsport back in 1952,” AMG’s very short press release says.

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In fact, AMG has confirmed just about no information about the new SL Roadster, aside from its testing and development progress, as well as that it’s set to be a relatively high-performance model.

A number of variants will be sold under the Mercedes-AMG sub-brand for the first time, as opposed to the Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster.

As a successor to the likes of the Gullwing and SLS, we expect the SL Roadster will remain a GT-style car with high-performance elements.

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“Mercedes-AMG, as the performance and sports car brand of Mercedes-Benz AG, has fittingly taken on the task of overall vehicle development for the reinterpretation of the legendary roadster.”

Expect a version of AMG’s 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet, though a mild-hybrid inline-six variant wouldn’t be a surprising addition to the SL lineup.

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“Following extensive digital development steps, test stand runs and simulator trials the new sports car is now entering a scheduled phase of wide-ranging dynamic driving tests – thus far at the Group's own Test and Technology Centre in Immendingen – and now also on public roads in some cases.”

Mercedes-AMG says the next stop on its test-schedule is the Nurburging.