Mercedes-Benz will launch a replacement for the SL, company chief Dieter Zetsche has confirmed, ending speculation that it might not be replaced.
Sales of the SL, one Mercedes' most iconic models, have dwindled in its current generation, and company sources had not seen evidence of a replacement model in the product plan.
However, speaking to Autocar at the Geneva motor show, Zetsche confirmed that Mercedes was working on a replacement for the SL, although he did not put a date on its launch.
"We are working on a next generation of the SL," Zetsche said. "The plan is to make a real wow car, a stunning car."
Zetsche said such a bold step was needed for the SL, as the model always performed best when it was not as conservative as the current model is.
"Whenever we accomplished that in the past, the SL has had a very good performance in the marketplace and that's where we want to go."
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I'm not surprised sales are
I'm not surprised sales are dwindling. The current SL is hideous, and cars like this should be all about style.
The real SL problem is
lousy service
£1300 for a major service
Cronic unreliability, I had 3 sensors fail in 6 months
this is the complete opposite of Porsche which is why they hold their value
Dieter Zetsche
Listen up.....When you design the next SL remember to step back from it every now and again and take a good look at it overall. Do not make it look like a dogs breakfast like the last one. And please place the exteroir mirrors in the correct place IE like they are on the E~Class Saloon NOT the E~Class Coupe. Mirrors sprouting out of the doors ala SLC style look terrible. The next SL could be Sporty & Light and NOT electric or full of AI driver aids.