LA show: Mercedes to debut refreshed SL

A SINGLE teaser image released by Mercedes-Benz has revealed that its facelifted SL-Class large sportscar will borrow styling cues of the Mercedes-AMG GT flagship.

The low-lit photograph precedes the unveiling of the seventh-generation SL-Class at the Los Angeles motor show later this month, and ahead of its arrival on Australian dirt in mid-2016.

No technical information has been released with the single front-on image but it is likely the new SL range will mimic the existing line-up, with an entry level SL400 twin-turbo V6, mid-range V8 SL500 and the AMG SL63 and SL65 power pair at the top of the pack.

Its large freckled grille with single chrome-look fin and centrally mounted three-point star nods suggestively towards the nose of the recently launched AMG GT coupe, as do the twin-prism headlights with fibre-optic eyebrows.

The image also reveals that the new version will retain some typical SL features, such as the finned vents toward the rear of its long bonnet, a wide, purposeful track and a large frontal area of air-gulping vents.

The SL drew particular attention in its fifth generation when it introduced Mercedes' first Vario folding hard top, a feature that carried over to its successor in 2012, but the teaser picture does not reveal if the latest SL continues the tin-top convertible mantra.

Exact local timing and pricing are still a long way off, but the new version is unlikely to deviate dramatically from the existing range, which kicks off from $228,610 before on-road costs for the SL400, and rises to $480,610 for the turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 SL65.

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific showed off the limited SL Mille Miglia Special Edition 417 at the recent Motorclassica car show in Melbourne that commemorates the 60th anniversary of a Mercedes 300SL winning the ‘Mille Miglia’ production sportscar race in Italy in 1955.

The SL has never been a volume seller for the German car-maker in Australia, but it still manages to attract a loyal and consistent audience locally, with 49 sold this year and single figure registrations each month.

In the big cabriolet arena, the SL goes up against BMW's 6 Series cabriolet, the Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari's California and the slightly more compact Jaguar F-Type.