Mercedes-AMG and Mercedes-Maybach SL Roadsters Spied with Fresh New Looks

Since the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA debuted with an updated design language a year ago, several new Mercs have been spied testing with revised styling, including the CLE coupe and CLE convertible, the GLC crossover, and the C-Class sedan. At the top of the hierarchy, Mercedes’ most extravagant models will also be refreshed, and our spies have caught the 2027 AMG and Maybach versions of the SL-Class undergoing cold-weather testing with updated cosmetics. Along with a new front end for each, the Maybach SL prototype is wearing a red lower rear fascia, which we sincerely hope is simply a placeholder piece and not an intentional choice; Maybachs can make duo-tone finishes look good, but this may be a touch too ostentatious.

2027 AMG & Maybach SL Roadsters: Expect Changes at Both Ends

Unsurprisingly, both development vehicles have fully camouflaged front ends to hide the shapes of their new headlights and any alterations to the fascias themselves. The headlights of the SL Roadsters have prominent three-pointed star-shaped daytime running lights within their clusters, but while the AMG has vertical bars in its upper central intake grille, the Maybach variant will be more traditional. It’s tough to tell from these images, but it appears that there may be a bar running across the middle of the Maybach’s grille, and the lower intake areas appear slightly larger. Both cars have black windshield surrounds, blending with their fabric roofs, as well as fake vent accents on their front fenders, but while both have similar wheel designs, the AMG has larger gold brake calipers.

Both have tape over their wing mirrors, potentially hinting at new indicator lighting, and at the back, the two differ in their exhaust tips, with the AMG adorned with four squared exits and the Maybach opting for subtler rhombus-shaped tips that are segmented horizontally. The Maybach also has more chrome in its less aggressive rear fascia, but none of this is new. However, we do expect that the taillights of both models will change, adopting a similar three-pointed star graphic motif to other recent Mercedes products.

2027 Mercedes SL: Interior Changes Will Be Subtle

According to our spies, the cabins of both AMG’s and Maybach’s takes on the SL-Class will benefit from no more than a new steering wheel design, though they weren’t able to get close enough to confirm this rumor with images. A broadly unchanged interior is not much of a surprise since these development vehicles preview a mid-cycle facelift, not an all-new generation. Therefore, changing the interior’s 12.3-inch driver display and adjustable 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display for the setup coming to the all-electric AMG GT 4-Door would be too costly. For the record, the upcoming EV will have a full-width curved display made up of a 10.2-inch driver screen and a 14-inch MBUX touchscreen with AI-powered software. Perhaps Mercedes will put updated software in the SL facelifts, but radical changes will only come sometime in the next decade.

Related: All-New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Finally Reveals Its Interior

We don’t expect any major changes under the hood, either, besides whatever may be necessary to keep the powertrains compliant with Euro 7 emissions standards. That means AMG’s SL 63 E Performance will still make at least 805 horsepower and 1,047 lb-f of torque from its hybridized 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, while Maybach’s unelectrified 4.0-liter V8 in the SL 680 will make at least 577 hp and 590 lb-ft. Expect both of the updated SL Roadsters to go on sale in American showrooms in the second half of this year or early in 2027.