New Mercedes-Benz SL to kill off AMG GT Roadster
Drop-top supercar to make way for all-new SL; slow sales could also be behind roofless AMG cullThe head of Mercedes-AMG has revealed that the current Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster will make way for the introduction of the all-new Mercedes-Benz SL when sales begin in the third quarter of 2021.
Both drop-tops were previously expected to co-exist, but according to AMG CEO Philip Schiemer, speaking to Car and Driver, the AMG GT Roadster will be phased out with the introduction of the SL.
As well as the surprise revelation the convertible version of the Mercedes-AMG GT was heading for the chopping block, Schiemer revealed that the SL, which was engineered by the performance division, would get both 48-volt and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
That includes the 'P3' plug-in hybrid set-up combined with the German car-maker's twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, suggesting a 2021 Mercedes-AMG SL 73e could be on the horizon.
If so, the SL will combine a pure-electric range with more than 600kW and 1000Nm of torque, providing for near-hypercar levels of performance with 0-100km/h acceleration of less than 3.0 seconds.
"Don't forget that the roots of the SL are in racing," Schiemer reminded the US mag when discussing the new SL.
It's thought dropping the AMG GT Roadster will prevent it from poaching sales from the fastest SL models. A slump in sales for the roofless AMG is also rumoured to be a contributing factor.
In the future, Schiemer said that it was his task to ensure AMG models "speak to a younger and more female customer base besides our heritage customers".
Although the newly instated AMG hastily added: "We will not be politically correct."
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