New Mercedes SL spied testing!

Text: Chris Lloyd / Photos: Automedia

13th April 2011

We’ve caught the new SL out in the open! In the most revealing pictures yet, our spies spotted this lightly disguised version of the new SL out testing this week.

The slim black camouflage does little to cover the shape of the new coupe, which was reportedly being benchmarked alongside key British rivals from Aston Martin and Jaguar.

With only a few slim pieces of black camouflage hiding its shape, it’s clear that the new SL’s wide, low front end is inspired by both the CLS four-door and the SLS, and the reshaped headlights, and a pair of LED running lights are visible beneath the black masking.
 
Hardcore AMG versions of the SL will feature the all-new 563bhp 5.5-litre V8 twin-turbo, from the CL, while the SL 500 will be powered by a smaller 4.6-litre unit that combines strong performance with greatly improved fuel efficiency.

Thanks to extensive use of lightweight reinforced plastics and carbon-fibre components the 2012 model is expected to be lighter than its predecessor too, with the newcomer set to make it’s motor show debut at Geneva next year.