New Mercedes SL-class pics leaked

Pictures of the all-new sixth generation Mercedes SL have been leaked online, ahead of the car’s official debut at the Detroit motor show in January.

These grainy brochure images of the new drop-top show the clearest indication of the car’s styling yet, which closely follows the design language used on the new Mercedes SLK. These include a large, open grille, angular headlamps with distinctive LED graphics, a heavily contoured bonnet and tail-lights that wrap right around to the body sides.

The leaked pics also include a first look inside the SL’s cabin, which, in the spec pictured here, features plush leather seats, door cards and centre arm rest.

As with the third-generation SLK, the new SL will offer Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Sky Control roof as an option. The roof’s glass structure, integrated into the hard-top’s aluminium frame, uses an electronically controlled process to alter the level of tint and intensity of the UV light entering the cabin at the press of a button.

Among the petrol engines set to appear in the new upmarket roadster are Mercedes-Benz’s new naturally aspirated 302bhp 3.5-litre V6 and a 429bhp twin-turbocharged 4.6-litre V8.

The new SL is to be the first large-scale production Mercedes to use an almost exclusively aluminium lightweight construction, which has saved 140kg compared with the previous steel-bodied model.

Mercedes is also claiming that the aluminium monocoque is stiffer than that of its rivals, the Jaguar XK being a good example.