2016 Mercedes-Benz SL facelift previewed ahead of LA motor show

Updated Mercedes-Benz SL will go on sale in the UK next year, after the smaller SLC

The facelifted Mercedes-Benz SL has been previewed with this official image ahead of its planned debut at the Los Angeles motor show later this month.

This image confirms that the updated SL will adopt minor styling changes designed to bring it in line with the current Mercedes-Benz family, and in particular the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car. A redesigned front grille and LED headlight clusters can be seen in this image, while previous spy images have also shown tweaked exhaust outlets and a reprofiled bumper at the rear.

The SL’s engine line-up is unlikely to change significantly, meaning the current range of 3.0-litre V6, 4.6-litre and 5.5-litre V8s and 6.0-litre V12 engines will carry over. The high-performance SL63 has also been spotted testing, and is understood to be keeping its current 577bhp 5.5-litre V8 engine.

Reflecting similar changes made to the SLK back in April, Mercedes’s new nine-speed automatic transmission will be optional for the first time, replacing the existing 7-speed automatic unit.

In the SLK, the new transmission helps to improve fuel consumption by 5.3mpg while also improving that car’s 0-62mph sprint time.

Inside, the SL will receive new materials and details designed to refresh its premium image, as well as a new free-standing infotainment screen running the latest version of Mercedes’s COMAND software. A touch-sensitive controller for the system, already in use elsewhere in the Mercedes range, will also feature.

With the facelifted SLC (formerly SLK) scheduled to launch at the beginning of 2016, it’s likely the updated SL will be seen towards the middle of next year.

The revised GL-Class, which now goes under the GLS name, will also be on show in LA.