2026 Mercedes SL Facelift A New Front End Featuring Starry Headlights

Mercedes-AMG SL was introduced in the fall of 2021 and that means it’s ripe for a facelift. The company seems to agree as spy photographers have snapped a prototype undergoing cold weather testing.
 

Sporting a heavily camouflaged front end, the model is notable for featuring starry new headlights. These have become a gaudy trademark of modern Mercedes, much to the chagrin of subtlety.
 
There’s not a whole lot else visible on the front fascia just yet, but previous spy photos have shown the roadster will have a larger grille and a new front bumper. We can also expect a revised splitter and intake treatment.
 
The rest of the car appears to carryover, but this prototype is a mash up of various trims. In particular, the rear bumper and exhaust treatment is lifted from the luxurious Maybach variant. However, this likely isn’t a real Maybach model as it eschews a hood ornament and special front fender badges.
 

This isn’t terribly surprising as we’re looking at an early prototype. As a result, we can expect the production model to incorporate additional changes, which will likely include a new rear bumper and starry taillights.
 
Any Interior Changes?
Spy photographers only got a glimpse inside, but we can see the cabin is covered by camouflage. This suggests there will be some interior updates, although their extent remains to be seen.
 
That being said, the car could follow in the footsteps of the facelifted S-Class and trade its portrait infotainment system for a landscape MBUX Hyperscreen. Even if it doesn’t go that far, we can expect an updated infotainment system running an AI-infused operating system.
 

From Inline-Four To V8s
Engine options will likely carryover, but there could be a few updates for improved performance and efficiency. While the final numbers remain to be seen, the current SL offers an assortment of powertrains including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 416 hp (310 kW / 422 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque.
 
The company also offers a couple versions of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 as well as a high-performance plug-in hybrid. The latter uses the aforementioned engine as well as a rear-mounted motor and a 6.1 kWh battery pack. This setup gives the car a combined output of 805 hp (600 kW / 816 PS) and 1,047 lb-ft (1,418 Nm) of torque.
 
One thing worth keeping an eye on is the new flat-plane crank M177 Evo V8, set to debut in the facelifted S580 mild-hybrid later this month. In the sedan, the engine produces 530 hp while trimming emissions, and if it shows up here, it could give the facelifted SL an extra edge.