Since 1954, Mercedes-Benz has released five generations of its luxury “Sport Leicht” (that’s German for Sport Lightweight) roadster, or as well all know it, the SL-Class. Now the time has come for the introduction of the sixth generation SL – and it’s not a moment too soon as the current model has been in the market since 2001 having received two facelifts, one in 2006 and the other in 2008.
Over the past year, we scooped the 2013 SL several times and even published photos of its body-in-white that recently made their way onto the web. But now, the Stuttgart-based carmaker has come out in the open, officially revealing a batch of photos and info on its new roadster that will be unveiled before the end of the year.
Though Mercedes doesn’t actually show us the finished product, the company gives us new photos shot during the development phase and more importantly, a detailed insight on some of the new SL’s novel features.
For the first time, the new SL is constructed almost entirely (89%) from aluminum, with the exception of high-strength steel integrated in the A-pillars and the (even lighter than aluminum) magnesium in the rear panel.
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