The Mercedes-Benz SL will soon become the Mercedes-AMG SL.

That’s right, AMG has been tasked with building one of Mercedes-Benz’s most iconic cars, here undergoing “wide-ranging dynamic driving tests” in prototype form.

(Click HERE to read about our time in the W121 190SL, W113 280SL 'Pagoda', R129 300SL and R231 SL 400)

“The next generation of the legendary SL Roadster is going back to its roots, which lay in motorsport back in 1952,” explains AMG.

That statement, allied to the fact that Merc’s performance division is building it, likely means the new SL will sit on the same architecture as the lovely AMG GT.

And, it’ll likely share the same 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine which is capable of some 630hp in top banana trim.

We say likely, because the AMG SL won’t be revealed until next year, so all we have is speculation.

Like its likely hybrid assistance, straight-six engine options alongside the V8s, and a lighter, stiffer chassis to countenance its return to a folding fabric roof. The latter we can literally see above.

With all this talk of motorsport bravado though, will the SL lose its most famous ability of being able to just… relax?

STORY Vijay Pattni