Mercedes-Benz AMG presents the SL production process

Mercedes-Benz launched a new generation of the legendary SL this year, and we have a video detailing the car’s production process.

Production takes place at the Mercedes plant in Bremen, Germany, where the previous generation was built. The plant is one of Mercedes’ largest, producing around 400,000 vehicles a year. Some of the other models built at the site include the C-Class, GLC-Class and the EQC and EQE electric vehicles.

The SL is the seventh member of a line that dates back to the original 1952 butterfly-winged 300SL race car, and unlike other Bremen-built models, the SL was developed entirely by Mercedes-Benz AMG performance skunkworks. .

AMG developed the car alongside a new generation of its own GT sports car which is still being tested, with the SL set to replace the previous generation GT Roadster. As a result, the SL is much more performance-oriented than previous generations.

The next-generation SL and GT are both ground-breaking designs, based on a rear-wheel-drive platform developed by AMG for sports cars, dubbed MSA (Modular Sports Architecture). The platform features a space frame construction relying on a mix of aluminum, magnesium and composites for the bodywork, with thicker cast aluminum components used for the nodal points where the forces will be greatest.

Compared to the previous SL, Mercedes benefits from 18% increased torsional stiffness and a lower center of gravity. Transverse and longitudinal stiffness are also up 50% and 40%, respectively, over the outgoing GT Roadster. Body weight less doors, hood and trunk lid is 595 pounds.

The specs are particularly impressive considering the new SL’s additional packaging requirements over its predecessor, as well as the GT Roadster it’s set to replace. Not only did the engineers have to accommodate 2+2 seats and space for the automated folding soft top, but also new drive concepts including all-wheel drive and electrified powertrains planned.

One of the powertrains is expected to be an 800+ horsepower plug-in hybrid setup shared with AMG’s GT 63S E Performance 4-door coupe. The setup includes AMG’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with a mild-hybrid system up front, along with an electric motor in the rear. The SL currently peaks at 577 hp in the SL 63 version.

Along with the new powertrains, Mercedes will also be adding new members to the SL family. In the pipeline are both a Maybach SL and a speedster SL. The latter will be part of a new series of limited production models known as the Mythos series.